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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Suffoll 


Presented  by 


PROCEEDINGS 


ON   THE   OCCASION   OF 


LAYING   THE    CORNEK-STONE 


PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON, 

17  SEPTEMBER,  1855. 


BOSTON: 

MOORE    ft     CROSBY,     CITY     PRINT  EttS. 
1855. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON. 


IN  COMMON  COUNCIL, 
October  11,  1855. 

ORDERED  :  That  the  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  Pub- 
lic Library  Building  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  cause 
to  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  City  Council,  the  addresses  deliv- 
ered by  the  Hon.  E.  C.  WINTHROP,  and  His  Honor  the  MAYOR,  at 
the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  building,  on  the  17th  of 
September  last,  together  with  an  account  of  the  proceedings  upon 
that  occasion,  and  such  other  matter  connected  therewith  as  may 
be  deemed  proper  by  them. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

WILLIAM  A.  BELL, 

PRESIDENT,  pro  tern. 


IN  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN,  1 
October  15,  1855.          j 

Concurred. 

W.   WASHBUEN, 

CHAIRMAN. 


OCTOBER  17,  1855. 
Approved. 

J.  V.  C.  SMITH, 

MAYOR. 


A  true  copy.  Attest : 

S.  F.  MCCLEARY, 

City  Clerk. 


724864 


PROCEEDINGS. 


THE  Corner-Stone  of  the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston 
was  laid  on  the  17th  day  of  September,  1855. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  the  following  letter  on  the  subject 
was  addressed  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City  by  the  President  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  building : 

BOSTON,  5  September,  1855. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  —  I  am  instructed  by  the  Commissioners  on 
the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of 
Boston,  to  inform  you  that  the  work  is  in  such  a  state  of  forward- 
ness that  the  Corner-Stone  may  be  conveniently  laid  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  17th  inst.,  our  Municipal  Birthday. 

The  Commissioners  have  not  contemplated  any  ostentatious 
display  on  this  occasion,  nor  would  they  feel  at  liberty  to  make 
arrangements,  on  their  own  responsibility,  for  any  public  ceremo- 
nial which  might  involve  the  City  in  expense. 

They  have  presumed,  however,  that  such  a  step  in  the  progress 
of  so  interesting  and  important  a  work  would  hardly  be  allowed 
to  be  taken  without  something  of  solemn  form.  And  they 
especially  desire  that  whatever  is  done,  —  and  their  own  preference 
is  for  simplicity,  —  should  be  done  in  the  name  and  by  the 
authority  of  the  City. 

I  have,  accordingly,  the  honor,  in  their  behalf,  to  invite  you,  as 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  City,  to  lay  the  Corner-Stone  of  the 
building  for  the  Public  Library,  on  Monday,  the  17th  inst.,  at  4 
o'clock,  P.M.,  with  such  assistance  and  such  ceremonies  as  may  be 
thought  fit  for  the  occasion. 


The  Commissioners  desire  to  leave  it  entirely  to  yourself  to 
invite  the  presence  of  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  City  Authori- 
ties, and  to  extend  the  invitation  to  any  others  whom  it  may  he 
considered  proper  to  include  on  the  occasion.  It  will  afford  them 
pleasure,  however,  to  co-operate  with  you  in  carrying  out  any 
arrangements  which  may  be  decided  upon. 

I  am,  my  dear  sir, 

With  great  respect  and  regard, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

EGBERT  C.  WINTHROP, 

PRESIDENT. 

His  Honor  J.  V.  C.  SMITH, 
Mayor  of  Boston. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  foregoing  letter  was  communicated  to  the  City  Council 
by  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  as  follows : 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  CITY  HALL,         1 
BOSTON,  SEPT.  10th,  1855.  J 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen : 

SIR  :  —  Through  you,  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  a  commu- 
nication from  the  Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  President  of  the 
Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  Public  Library,  notifying  the 
City  Government  that  it  is  proposed  to  lay  the  Corner-Stone  of 
the  new  edifice  on  Monday,  Sept.  17th.  Allow  me  to  suggest  the 
propriety  of  raising  a  Special  Committee,  clothed  with  authority 
to  confer  with  the  Commissioners,  and  make  such  arrangements 
as  may  be  proper  for  the  occasion. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  V.  C.  SMITH, 

MAYOR. 


The  letter  of  the  Mayor  was  thereupon  read,  and  referred  to 

Aldermen,  GEORGE  W.  MESSENGER, 
BENJAMIN  F.  COOKE,  and 
WILLIAM  WASHBURN, 

with  such  as  the  Common  Council  may  join,  to  constitute  a  Com- 
mittee of  Conference  with  the  Commissioners  on  the  subject  of  the 
ceremonies,  with  full  powers  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements. 
On  the  13th  of  September  the  Common  Council  concurred  in 
the  action  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and 

Messrs.  FARNHAM  PLUMMER, 
GEORGE  S.  DEXTER, 
HEZEKIAH  PRINCE, 
SYLVESTER  P.  GILBERT,  and 
WILLIAM  MARBLE, 

were  joined  as  members  of  the  Committee. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  on  the  motion  of  Alderman 
COOKE  : 

"  Whereas  the  ancient  and  honored  institution  of  Free  Masons 
has  and  recognizes  the  Supreme  Architect  of  the  Universe  as 
its  chief  corner-stone,  and  in  all  ages,  from  the  building  of  Solo- 
mon's Temple,  that  body  has  officiated  or  taken  part  in  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stones  for  public  buildings  ;  and  whereas  said  insti- 
tution is  Christian  and  charitable  and  in  no  way  or  manner  tends 
to  promote  infidelity,  and  takes  no  part  in  political  questions ;  and 
whereas  no  expressed  opinion  of  any  gentleman  of  the  Commis- 
sion or  City  Council  has  been  given  adverse  to  the  observance  of 
this  time-honored  custom,  — 

"  Therefore  it  is  resolved,  on  the  part  of  this  Board,  that  his 
Honor  the  Mayor,  having  charge  of  invitations,  be  and  hereby  is 
requested  to  invite  the  attendance  of  the  Grand  Master  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  with  such  as  the  Grand  Master 


may  desire,  in  an  official  capacity,  to  be  present  and  take  part  in 
the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  Public  Library." 

Agreeably  to  the  arrangements  made  by  the  Joint  Committee 
of  the  two  branches,  the  City  Government,  with  the  Trustees  of 
the  Library,  the  Benefactors  of  the  Institution,  the  past  Mayors  of 
the  City,  the  past  Trustees,  the  past  Commissioners,  and  many 
other  invited  guests,  assembled  at  the  City  Hall  at  half-past  3 
o'clock,  P.M.,  on  the  17th  inst.,  and  thence,  under  the  marshalship 
of  GEORGE  W.  MESSENGER,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  proceeded  to  Boylston  street  in  the  following 
order: 

1.    National  Brass  Band. 

2.   Chief  of  Police. 

3.    Committee  of  Arrangements. 

4.    Mayor,  Chaplains,  and  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 

Free  Masons. 

5.   Board  of  Aldermen. 

6.    Common  Council. 

7.    Trustees  of  the  Library. 

8.    Past  Commissioners  and  Past  Trustees. 

9.    Invited  Guests. 

On  arriving  at  the  ground,  they  were  met  by  the  Commission- 
ers on  the  erection  of  the  building,  when  the  following  Exercises 
took  place : 


8 


PRAYER, 

BY  THE   REV.    E.    N.   KIRK,   D.D. 


0  Thou  !  from  whom  cometh  down  every  good  and  perfect  gift : 
Thou  art  the  Father  of  our  spirits,  for  Thou  hast  made  us  in 
Thine  own  image.  Assembled  on  this  occasion,  reverently  and 
gratefully  do  we  thus  acknowledge  Thee  to  be  the  source  of  all 
our  endowments  and  faculties.  Thou  hast  also  made  the  Universe 
to  be  our  school ;  and  all  the  works  of  Thy  hands,  and  the  opera- 
tions of  Thy  Providence  to  be  our  teachers.  We  thank  Thee  that 
we  are  made  capable  of  knowing  Thee  and  Thy  works ;  that 
before  us  the  pages  of  science,  of  history,  and  of  literature,  lie 
open  ;  and  that  we  may  always  sit  at  Wisdom's  feast ;  that  these 
noble  faculties  which  Thou  hast  stamped  with  the  seal  of  immor- 
tality, may  now,  in  the  present  life,  be  cultivated,  strengthened 
and  refined. 

And  we  acknowledge  the  unfolding  of  Thy  benevolent  designs 
in  all  the  progress  which  human  society  is  making,  and  especially 
in  the  opening  of  fountains  of  knowledge  at  the  door-step  of 
poverty ;  in  the  instances  which  we  behold  of  the  rich  devoting 
their  wealth  to  the  improvement  of  the  poor.  We  especially 
thank  Thee  on  this  occasion,  that  Thou  hast  inclined  the  hearts  of 
Thy  servants  to  devise  liberal  things,  and  to  lay  the  broad  and 
substantial  foundations  of  that  institution,  in  whose  interest  we 
are  here  before  Thee  assembled.  We  thank  Thee  for  this,  and 
for  every  other  indication  that  men  are  appreciating  the  true 
value  of  superabounding  wealth.  Thus  may  men  delight  in 
advancing  the  happiness  and  the  improvement  of  each  other : 
thus  may  the  bands  of  brotherhood  be  strengthened ;  and  the 
selfishness  which  has  so  long  blighted  Thy  heritage,  cease  from 
the  earth. 

O  Lord,  except  Thou  build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that. 
build  it.  We  therefore  commend  to  Thy  guardian  care,  and  to 


9 


the  benediction  of  Thy  kind  Providence  the  edifice  we  are  here 
constructing.  Thou  that  didst  "  call  by  name  Bezaleel,  the  son 
of  Uri,  and  fill  him  with  the  spirit  of  God,  in  wisdom,  and  in 
understanding,  and  in  knowledge,  and  in  all  manner  of  work- 
manship, to  devise  cunning  works,  to  work  in  gold,  and  in 
silver,  and  in  brass,  and  in  cutting  of  stones,  to  set  them,  and  in 
carving  of  timber,  to  work  in  all  manner  of  workmanship,"  put 
Thou  "  into  the  hearts  of  all  the  wise-hearted,  wisdom  ;  "  that  they 
may  skilfully  and  successfully  bring  this  work  to  a  conclusion. 
Save  Thou  the  workmen  from  all  harm  and  sickness ;  let  no 
untoward  event  interrupt  this  work  ;  crown  it  with  Thy  blessing  ; 
"  let  Thy  work  appear  unto  Thy  servants,  and  Thy  glory  unto 
their  children.  And  let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be 
upon  us ;  and  establish  Thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us ; 
yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  Thou  it." 

We  now  commend  to  thy  goodness,  O  Thou,  the  God  of  our 
fathers,  this  institution,  designed  to  promote  the  great  end  they 
sought  in  coming  to  the  wilderness ;  the  establishing  of  a  free, 
enlightened,  and  Christian  people,  apart  from  the  conflicting 
elements  which  are  disturbing  the  ancient  kingdoms  of  the  earth. 
Forbid,  O  God,  that  this  noble  institution  should  ever  be  so  per- 
verted as  to  defeat  that  end.  May  it  never  become  a  fountain  of 
corruption  and  destruction  to  our  city ;  may  it  furnish  no  wea- 
pons for  the  overthrow  of  truth  and  righteousness.  But  do 
Thou,  in  thine  infinite  mercy,  watch  over  it,  and  preserve  it  as  a 
fountain  to  refresh  and  purify  the  community,  with  its  overflowing 
streams.  May  the  books  here  to  be  gathered  become  a  source 
of  healthful  relaxation,  of  manly  culture,  and  of  Christian 
instruction. 

And,  over  all  the  interests  of  our  beloved  city  wilt  Thou  still 
kindly  watch.  Promote  in  the  midst  of  us  sound  learning  and 
true  godliness.  Make  us  a  wise  and  a  righteous  people,  to  the 
praise  of  Thine  own  infinitely  revered  and  holy  name. 

These  our   thanks  wilt   Thou  kindly  accept,   and  graciously 
answer  and  exceed  our  requests,  for  the  sake  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ  —  AMEN. 
2 


10 


HYMN, 

Written  for  the  occasion  by  the  Hon.  GEORGE  LUNT, 

And  sung  by  the  pupils  of  the  Girls'  High  and  Normal  School, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  L.  H.  SOUTHARD. 

Deep  lay  in  earth  the  corner-stone, 

Rise,  shafted  arch  and  airy  dome  ! 
On  morn  a  light  diviner  shone, 

When  Knowledge  found  this  other  home. 

Be  this  her  fane ;  and  thither  lead 

The  willing  steps  of  generous  youth, 
And  point  the  high  emblazoned  meed 

Of  souls  that  seek  immortal  Truth. 

Here,  bid  them  learn  the  lore  of  old, 

Here,  touch  the  future's  hidden  seal, 
The  secret  depths  of  thought  unfold, 

And  all  its  flight  sublime  reveal. 

And  long,  amid  the  City's  din, 

In  sweet  seclusion  stand  enshrined, 
Peace  reign,  thy  cloistered  walls  within, 

Oh  !  sacred  temple  of  the  Mind. 


The  following  Address  was  then  delivered  by  the  Hon.  EGBERT 
C.  WINTHROP,  President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the 
erection  of  the  Library  Building,  on  delivering  the  Trowel  to  the 
Mayor : 


11 


ADDRESS. 


WE  are  here,  Mr.  Mayor,  Gentlemen  of  the  City 
Council,  and  Fellow  Citizens,  to  lay  the  Corner-Stone 
of  a  Building  for  the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of 
Boston.  We  have  come  to  take  the  first  formal  step 
towards  making  permanent  provision  for  an  institution, 
which  we  believe  is  to  exert  a  most  important  and 
powerful  influence  upon  the  character  of  our  commu- 
nity,— so  long  as  our  community  shall  have  a  character 
among  men. 

By  a  more  than  fortunate  coincidence,  we  have  been 
able  to  select  for  this  purpose  the  225th  anniversary 
of  the  day,  which  has  become  associated  in  New 
England  history  with  the  original  foundation  of  our 
City.  On  this  day,  just  two  centuries  and  a  quarter 
ago,  at  a  Court  of  Assistants  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company,  held  at  Charlestown,  (Governor  Winthrop 
in  the  chair,)  it  was  Ordered,  That  Trimountaine  shall 
be  called  BOSTON. 

I  know  not  how  a  nobler  commemoration  of  our 
Municipal  Birthday  could  have  been  devised  than  that 
in  which  we  are  engaged,  or  one  calculated  to  invest  it 
with  a  more  enduring  charm  in  the  hearts  of  future 
generations.  Certainly,  no  Birthday  Offering  could 
easily  have  been  arranged,  more  welcome  to  a  vener- 
ated mother,  or  more  worthy  of  grateful  and  affection- 


ate  children,  than  the  institution  wliich  is  here  to  he 
established. 

It  is  fit,  my  friends,  that  such  a  transaction,  on  such 
a  day,  should  be  marked  by  something  of  public  and 
solemn  ceremonial.  It  is  fit,  that  the  voice  of  prayer 
should  be  lifted  up  at  such  an  hour  and  in  such  a  con- 
nection, and  that  songs  of  praise  should  flow  forth 
from  the  lips  and  from  the  hearts  of  these  graceful 
young  ladies  and  these  joyous  pupils  of  the  schools. 
It  is  eminently  fit,  that  the  Conscript  Fathers  of  the 
City  should  lend  the  sanction  of  their  official  presence 
to  the  scene,  and  that  some  word  of  remembrance,  of 
congratulation  and  of  hope  should  not  be  wanting  on 
the  part  of  those,  who  have  been  honored  with  a  com- 
mission to  conduct  so  interesting  a  work. 

I  think  myself  happy,  Mr.  Mayor,  in  being  privi- 
leged, as  President  of  the  Board,  to  speak  that  word, 
and  in  being  allowed  to  associate  myself,  in  ever  so 
humble  a  manner,  with  this  crowning  act  of  the  matu- 
rity of  my  native  place. 

And  now,  Fellow  Citizens,  it  is  most  agreeable  to 
reflect  that  the  institution  which  we  are  engaged  this 
day  in  establishing,  is  in  such  precise  and  beautiful 
conformity  with  the  policy  and  the  principles  of  those 
noble  Colonists  by  whom  Boston  was  founded.  Too 
often,  alas !  in  the  progress  of  great  cities,  the  most 
costly  and  conspicuous  structures  serve  only,  as  they 
rise,  to  signalize  some  fresh  departure  from  the  sim- 
plicity and  purity  of  the  olden  tune.  But  we  are 
here  to  erect  no  such  monument  of  our  own  degen- 
eracy. We  are  here  to  engraft  no  strange  or  uncon- 
genial branch  upon  the  old  Puritan  Vine.  We  have 


13 


come  rather,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  to  carry  out  to  its 
legitimate  consummation  a  system  which  was  the  pecu- 
liar pride  and  glory  «of  the  New  England  Settlers, 
and  which  they  cherished  and  cultivated  as  the  especial 
strength  and  safeguard  of  the  civil  and  religious  Free- 
dom which  they  planted  upon  these  shores. 

With  a  wisdom  and  a  forecast,  which  seem,  as  we 
look  back  upon  them,  little  less  than  the  immediate 
promptings  of  a  Divine  Power,  the  Fathers  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  Founders  of  Boston  allowed  scarcely  an 
hour  to  elapse  after  their  arrival,  before  making  some 
incipient  provision  for  the  public  instruction  of  their 
children.  Within  five  years  after  Trimountaine  was 
called  Boston,  the  small  beginnings  of  our  Common 
School  System  may  be  distinctly  traced  upon  our 
ancient  records.  And  from  that  day  to  this,  the  Insti- 
tutions of  Free  Popular  Education  have  gone  on  from 
strength  to  strength,  —  have  been  extended  and  im- 
proved, year  by  year,  under  the  liberal  and  fostering 
care  of  our  Public  Authorities,  —  until,  during  the 
single  year  last  past,  nearly  25,000  children  have 
received,  within  our  City  limits,  as  good  an  education 
as  the  wide  world  can  afford,  without  cost  or  charge  to 
themselves,  but  at  the  willingly  incurred  expense,  all 
told,  of  little  less  than  four  hundred  thousand  dollars 
to  the  public  treasury.* 

By  the  munificent  bequest  of  a  native  son  of 
Boston,  —  whose  name  will  be  remembered  among  us 
as  long  as  the  Pyramids  amid  which  that  memorable 


0  The  precise  figures  in  the  City  Auditor's  Report,  just  published,  are  2-i,827 
pupils;  —  Expenditures,  including  new  school-houses,  $389,135  Gi. 


14 


Codicil  was  conceived,  or  the  palaces  of  the  Pharaohs 
on  one  of  which  it  was  written,  (JOHN  LOWELL,  Jr.)  — 
a  system  of  Free  Lectures  has  been  added,  of  late 
years,  to  our  other  means  of  popular  instruction,  and 
has  abundantly  justified  the  generous  purposes  of  its 
lamented  Founder. 

But  Education  does  not  end  with  the  schools ;  —  nor 
is  all  education  conducted  within  the  School-room  or 
the  Lecture-room.  Even  a  College  Degree  is  but  the 
significant  A  B  of  a  whole  alphabet  of  learning  still 
to  be  acquired.  The  great"  work  of  Self-Culture  re- 
mains to  be  carried  on  long  after  Masters  and  Tutors 
and  Professors  have  finished  their  labors  and  exhausted 
their  arts.  And  no  small  part  of  this  work,  I  need 
hardly  say,  is  to  be  carried  on  under  the  influence  of 
good  reading  and  by  the  aid  of  good  books. 

Who  shall  undertake  to  measure  the  importance  or 
calculate  the  value  of  good  reading,  as  an  instrument 
in  advancing  the  welfare  and  promoting  the  happiness 
of  mankind !  Even  one  good  book,  read  by  snatches, 
in  the  intervals  of  labor,  or  in  the  watches  of  the 
night,  —  what  unspeakable  comfort  and  aid  has  it  not 
often  imparted  to  the  humblest,  or,  it  may  be,  to  the 
loftiest  mind  and  heart! 

I  speak  not  of  the  Bible,  —  which  is  an  exception 
to  all  books,  and  which  might  almost  be  a  substitute 
for  all ;  —  a  library  in  itself,  able  alone  to  carry  civili- 
zation and  culture  into  every  home  where  it  is  thor- 
oughly and  thankfully  and  thoughtfully  read ;  —  itself 
the  corner-stone  of  all  Christian  literature  forever ! 

But  even  among  books  of  merely  human  composition 
and  origin,  and  dealing  with  merely  human  and  mortal 


15 


relations  and  interests,  —  how  many  have  there  not 
been,  and  are  there  not  still,  —  for  a  good  book  never 
dies,  —  of  a  power  not  only  to  afford  amusement  or 
instruction  for  an  hour  or  a  day,  but  to  mould  a  whole 
character  and  marshal  a  whole  life !  How  many  of 
the  mightiest,  as  well  as  of  the  humbler,  intellects  of 
the  world's  history  have  borne  testimony  to  the  influ- 
ence of  "  the  precious  life-blood  of  some  master-spirit, 
embalmed  and  treasured  up  on  purpose  to  a  life  beyond 
life!" 

Need  I  recall  to  you  the  example  of  our  own 
FRANKLIN,  who  tells  us  himself,  in  his  charming  little 
autobiography,  that,  while  indulging  his  passionate 
fondness  for  reading,  as  a  child  of  twelve  years  old,  he 
found  among  the  few  books  which  his  father  could 
afford  to  own,  "  a  work  of  De  Foe's,  entitled  an  '  Essay 
on  Projects,'  from  which,  perhaps,  (says  he,)  I  derived 
impressions  that  have  since  influenced  some  of  the 
principal  events  of  my  life  ! "  Or,  need  I  remind  you 
how  much  of  that  clear,  pure,  transparent  style,  which 
distinguished  him  above  almost  all  other  American 
writers,  or  even  English  writers,  of  his  own  day  or  of 
any  day,  he  attributed  to  the  use  which  he  had  made 
of  "  an  odd  volume  of  the  Spectator  which  fell  into 
his  hands"  by  the  merest  accident! 

Such  were  the  instruments  by  which  the  great  Bos- 
tonian  pursued  that  system  of  self-culture  which 
prepared  him  for  his  wonderful  career  as  a  Philosopher 
and  a  Patriot ;  —  books,  odd  volumes,  sometimes  found 
by  chance  on  the  meagre  shelves  of  the  family  book- 
case, —  sometimes  falling  into  his  hands  by  less  natural 
and  accountable  accidents, — sometimes  borrowed  from 


16 

his  fellow  apprentices  and  read  by  stealth  while  they 
were  sleeping.  "  How  often  (says  he)  has  it  happened 
to  me  to  pass  the  night  in  reading  by  my  bedside,  when 
the  book  had  been  lent  and  was  to  be  returned  the 
next  morning,  lest  it  might  be  missed  or  wanted ! " 
And  you  all  remember  the  practical  testimony  which 
he  gave  to  his  own  sense  of  the  value  of  reading,  by 
setting  on  foot  the  very  first  Social  Circulating  Library 
known  to  the  annals  of  the  world. 

But  I  may  not  take  up  more  of  the  time  of  this 
occasion  in  rhapsodies  upon  reading,  or  in  illustrating 
or  exemplifying  the  value  of  good  books.  I  have  said 
more  than  enough  already  to  justify  the  remark,  that 
in  establishing  this  Free  Public  Library,  we  are  but 
carrying  forward  another  stage,  and  that  a  great  stage, 
towards  its  ultimate  consummation  and  perfection,  that 
noble  system  of  popular  education  which  our  fathers 
founded.  It  has  originated  in  no  mere  design  to 
furnish  a  resort  for  professed  scholars,  where  they  may 
pursue  their  studies,  or  prosecute  their  researches,  his- 
torical or  classical,  scientific  or  literary,  —  important 
as  such  an  object  might  be.  It  is  to  be  eminently  a 
library  for  the  people,  —  for  the  whole  people. 

Doubtless,  in  the  gradual  accumulation  of  such  a 
library  as  we  hope  to  see  here,  —  or  as  we  hope  others 
at  least  will  see  here, — when  this  spacious  area  shall 
be  filled  with  books,  and  when,  perhaps,  the  building 
now  about  to  be  erected  shall  have  been  extended  to 
the  utmost  limits  of  this  ample  lot,  —  doubtless,  in  the 
gradual  accumulation  of  such  a  library  as  future  gen- 
erations will  witness  and  enjoy  here, — no  books  will 
be  excluded  because  they  may  not  seem  to  be  of  imme- 


17 


diate,  general,  or  popular  use  or  interest.  No  books, 
certainly,  will  ever  be  rejected  in  this  land  of  universal 
education  and  intelligence,  as  being  beyond  the  com- 
prehension or  capacity  of  the  people.  That  compre- 
hension will  be  subjected  to  no  narrow  gauge,  nor  that 
capacity  measured  by  any  reduced  or  stinted  standard. 
Those  who  shall  have  charge  from  time  to  time  of 
making  its  collections,  will  not  be  likely  to  forget  that 
we  are  no  dwindled  or  degenerate  offspring  of  a  race 
which  John  Milton  so  justly  and  so  nobly  characterized, 
when  he  said,  • —  "  Lords  and  Commons  of  England, 
consider  what  nation  it  is  whereof  ye  are,  and  whereof 
ye  are  the  governors :  —  a  nation  not  slow  and  dull, 
but  of  a  quick,  ingenious  and  piercing  spirit ;  acute  to 
invent,  subtle  and  sinewy  to  discourse,  not  beneath  the 
reach  of  any  point  the  highest  that  human  capacity 
can  soar  to." 

Here,  doubtless,  in  due  time,  will  be  found  works  of 
the  deepest  philosophy  and  science ;  and,  until  the 
name  of  BOWDITCH  shall  be  lost  to  our  remembrance, 
it  will  hardly  be  suggested  that  others  beside  professed 
scholars  may  not  be  able  to  turn  these  volumes  to  the 
best  account,  and  even  to  add  new  ones  of  their  own. 
Here,  without  question,  in  due  time,  will  be  found 
books  in  every  language  and  tongue  which  is  read  or 
spoken  beneath  the  sun ;  and,  while  the  living  example 
of  an  ELIHU  BURRITT  is  still  before  us,  no  one  will  doubt 
that  others  beside  what  are  called  the  educated  classes 
may  be  eager  to  decypher  their  mysteries,  and  may 
find  no  characters  too  difficult  for  their  mastery.  The 
least  popular  books  of  the  collection  may  still  find 
3 


18 


their  best  readers  coming  forth  from  the  forge  or  the 
forecastle. 

But  as  a  general  rule,  and  for  the  present  at  least, 
our  professed  scholars  and  students  will  look  to  the 
libraries  of  our  Universities  and  Athenaeums  and  Acad- 
emies of  science,  for  the  volumes  which  may  aid  them 
in  their  special  investigations  and  pursuits. 

The  Library  whose  corner-stone  we  are  now  about  to 
lay,  in  its  primary  and  principal  design,  is  to  furnish 
entertainment  and  instruction  for  the  whole  community. 
Central  in  its  situation,  the  dwellers  in  all  quarters  of 
the  City  may  approach  it  with  almost  equal  facility. 
Standing  on  the  margin  of  our  beautiful  Common,  it 
will  reflect  and  reproduce  some  of  the  peculiar  and 
truly  republican  features  of  that  charming  play-place 
of  our  children,  and  pleasure-ground  of  us  all, — where 
we  see,  at  this  moment,  the  choicest  seats  and  most 
inviting  shade  ranged  along  the  trodden  paths,  and  by 
the  side  of  the  broad  and  beaten  tracks ;  —  and  whose 
crystal  fountains,  —  though  now  and  then  they  may 
leap  to  the  skies  and  sparkle  in  the  sun  and  waste 
themselves  in  glittering  spray,  to  furnish  a  holiday 
spectacle,  —  find  always  their  better  use  and  their 
daily  beauty  in  ministering  to  the  refreshment  of  the 
wayfaring  and  the  weary. 

And  this,  Fellow  Citizens,  is  to  be  our  intellectual 
and  literary  COMMON,  —  beneath  whose  roof  and  within 
whose  alcoves  fountains  of  living  waters  shall  be  ever 
open,  and  upon  whose  tables  shall  be  always  spread  a 
banquet  of  wholesome  and  nutritious  food  for  every 
mind,  with  a  cover  and  a  cordial  welcome  for  every 
comer,  and  where  no  guest,  whatever  his  garment,  so 


19 


it  clothe  an  honest  man,  shall  be  excluded  or  disdained. 
"  Free  to  all,  with  no  other  restrictions  than  are  neces- 
sary for  the  preservation  of  the  books,"  —  these  are 
the  noble  terms  of  its  greatest  benefactor.* 

It  may  never  vie,  indeed,  with  the  sumptuous  libra- 
ries of  the  old  world,  in  the  magnitude  or  magnificence 
of  their  structure,  or  in  the  costliness  and  rarity  of 
their  contents.  We  have  aimed  at  no  imposing  faQades, 
or  splendid  colonnades.  But  it  is  confidently  believed, 
that,  by  the  skill  of  our  ingenious  architect,  (Mr.  C. 
K.  KIKBY,)  few  buildings  will  be  found  to  equal  it  in 
practical  appropriateness  and  convenience;  and  that, 
through  the  discriminating  care  of  the  distinguished 
Trustees  of  the  Library,  —  our  Everetts,  and  Ticknors, 
and  Shurtleffs,  who,  like  the  Irvings,  and  Astors,  and 
Cogswells  of  a  sister  City,  are  devoting  themselves  so 
assiduously  to  this  particular  province,  —  no  collection 
of  books  will  ultimately  surpass  it  in  its  adaptation  to 
the  improvement  and  instruction  of  a  free  people. 

Here,  especially,  will  be  collected  without  delay, 
whatever  may  throw  light  on  the  great  practical  arts 
which  have  characterized  our  age  and  country,  and 
whatever  may  assist  our  ingenious  mechanics  and 
inventors,  —  second  to  none  throughout  the  world,  — 
in  their  attempts  still  further  to  simplify  the  magic 
processes,  and  to  perfect  the  marvellous  implements 
and  engines,  by  which  difficulties  and  distances  may 
be  annihilated. 

Here,  too,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  be  found,  from  time 

*  Letter  of  Joshua  Bates,  1   October,   1852. 


20 


to  time,  whatever  our  people  may  be  able  to  point  to, 
us  the  product  of  their  own  intelligence,  their  own 
genius,  their  own  institutions.  Here  will  be  seen  the 
whole  body  of  American  literature,  as  it  shall  gradu- 
ally unfold  and  develope  itself  under  the  influence  of 
American  liberty.  No  book  or  pamphlet,  certainly, 
which  shall  emanate  from  a  Boston  mind  or  a  Boston 
pen,  W7ill  be  long  wanting  to  its  shelves.  For  here,  as 
one  after  another  of  her  sons  or  of  her  daughters  shall 
employ  the  talent  which  her  schools  or  her  social 
advantages  shall  have  enabled  them  to  improve,  they 
will  themselves  be  seen  hastening  to  lay  the  earliest 
fruits  upon  the  maternal  altar.  In  the  admirable  lan- 
guage of  one  of  our  early  benefactors,  "  Every  son  of 
Boston  justly  regards  the  City  as  an  illustrious  parent."* 
And  here  that  parent  may  peculiarly  be  pictured  as 
opening  her  lap  to  receive  gifts  from  her-  grateful 
children,  —  at  once  the  pledges  of  their  love  and  the 
proofs  of  their  worthiness. 

And  now,  Fellow  Citizens,  we  should  be  ungrateful 
were  we  to  forget,  on  this  occasion,  those  among  the 
living,  and  those  among  the  dead,  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  the  establishment  and  endowment  of  this 
institution.  The  building,  indeed,  upon  whose  walls 
we  are  standing,  is  intended  to  be,  and  is,  wholly  a 
City  building.  It  owes  its  projection  and  its  progress 
to  the  enlightened  and  liberal  counsels  of  the  succes- 
sive City  governments,  who  have  made  the  necessary 
appropriations  for  the  purchase  of  the  site  and  for  the 
erection  of  the  edifice.  It  owes  much  to  your  imme- 


Letter  of  Jonathan  Phillips,  14  April,  1853. 


21 


diate  predecessor,  (Hon.  BENJAMIN  SEAVER,)  and  it  owes 
still  more  to  yourself,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  to  your  asso- 
ciates in  the  present  City  Council.  I  am  persuaded, 
Gentlemen  of  the  two  branches,  that  if  the  enterprising 
contractor  (Mr.  NATHAN  DRAKE)  and  the  faithful  labor- 
ers in  his  employ,  shall  fulfil  the  promise  of  these  first 
beginnings,  you  will  have  no  cause  to  regret  what  you 
have  done.  I  am  persuaded,  that  you  will  find  few 
items  on  the  list  of  your  annual  expenditures,  —  be 
your  terms  of  service  longer  or  shorter,  —  upon  which 
you  will  look  back  with  greater  satisfaction  or  with 
greater  pride,  —  nor  any  item  for  which  the  whole 
people  of  Boston,  in  all  time  to  come,  will  be  ready  to 
acknowledge  themselves  more  deeply  in  your  debt. 

But  we  have  other  and  individual  benefactors  to  be 
remembered  in  connection  with  this  work.  And,  first 
of  all,  it  becomes  us  to  name  with  the  highest  distinc- 
tion, and  with  the  most  grateful  regard  and  respect, 
that  eminent  and  excellent  merchant  and  banker, 
whom,  though  long  resident  in  London,  we  are  always 
proud  to  recognize  and  to  claim  as  a  native  son  of 
Massachusetts,  —  JOSHUA  BATES,  —  whose  munificent 
donation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  with  its  wise  and 
well-considered  conditions,  put  an  end  to  all  further 
doubt  that  this  institution  would  have  an  immediate, 
prosperous  and  permanent  existence. 

Amid  all  the  cares  and  riches  and  honors  by  which 
he  is  surrounded  in  the  distinguished  position  which 
his  integrity  and  enterprise  have  so  worthily  won  for 
him  in  the  metropolis  of  old  England,  —  he  has  never 
forgotten  his  humble  beginnings,  his  early  friends,  or 
his  native  soil.  Let  him  be  assured,  that  the  metropo- 


22 


lis  of  New  England  does  not  forget  him  on  this  occa- 
sion, nor  will  ever  fail  to  hold  his  name  and  character 
in  fresh  and  grateful  remembrance.  We  send  him  our 
greetings  tlus  day  from  these  firm  foundations  of  an 
institution  which  owes  so  much  to  his  unprompted  and 
unstinted  generosity,  and  we  waft  the  best  wishes  of  a 
hundred  thousand  hearts  across  the  Atlantic  for  his 
continued  prosperity  and  welfare ! 

In  fit  connection  with  this  central  figure  in  the 
group  of  our  benefactors,  we  next  recall  a  name  asso- 
ciated in  successive  generations  with  not  a  few  of  our 
most  valued  seminaries  of  education  and  of  science, 
and  now  worthily  worn  by  one  born  and  bred  and  still 
residing  among  us,  —  one  whose  excellent  words  I 
have  just  quoted,  and  who  is  present  with  us  at  this 
moment,  to  receive  our  cordial  and  grateful  acknowl- 
edgments,—  JONATHAN  PHILLIPS;  —  may  he  long  be 
spared  to  witness  the  results  of  his  large  and  timely 
bounty ! 

And  there  are  others  with  us  here  on  this  occasion, 
whose  early  and  liberal  gifts  of  money  or  of  books 
cannot  be  forgotten. 

I  need  not  name  a  late  Mayor  of  our  city,  (Hon. 
JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,)  who  so  handsomely  diverted  the 
amount  which  had  been  raised  for  a  well-merited 
memorial  of  his  own  faithful  services,  to  the  purpose 
of  conferring  a  fresh  benefit  on  those  who  had  thus 
sought  to  honor  him. 

I  need  not  name  the  distinguished  and  eloquent 
orator  and  statesman,  (Hon.  EDWARD  EVERETT,)  who 
was  seen,  about  the  same  time,  in  fulfilment  of  a  pre- 
vious and  cherished  purpose,  gathering  up  the  accu- 


23 


mulated  treasures  of  his  long  public  life,  and  laying 
them  at  the  feet  of  those  in  whose  behalf  he  had 
already  so  successfully  and  so  brilliantly  employed 
them. 

Others,  too,  might  be  referred  to,  among  the  living, 
and  some  of  them  among  the  present,  who  have  made 
large  and  valuable  additions  to  our  collection,  or  who 
have  rendered  services  to  our  infant  library,  more  val- 
uable than  any  volumes;  and  more  than  one  might  be 
named,  had  they  not  fprbidden  me  to  name  them,  who, 
in  the  double  capacity  of  Commissioner  and  Trustee,  or 
in  the  threefold  capacity  of  Commissioner,  Trustee  and 
Donor,  have  identified  themselves  with  the  whole  prog- 
ress and  prosperity  of  the  institution. 

Nor  can  I  omit  to  allude  to  that  ardent  and  enter- 
prising foreigner,  (Mons.  VATTEMARE,)  whose  offerings 
were  the  earliest  of  all,  and  whose  enthusiastic  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  intellectual  and  literary  exchanges  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  have  recently  called  forth 
the  commendations  of  a  Guizot  and  a  Dupin  at  the 
Academy  of  Moral  and  Political  Sciences  at  Paris. 

Nor  shall  "  the  last,  best  gift "  be  forgotten.  Honor 
to  the  liberal  lady,* — not  alone  of  her  sex  in  remem- 
bering us, — who,  on  the  very  eve  of  this  occasion, 
has  given  so  welcome  a  pledge  that  the  mothers  and 
daughters  of  Boston  are  not  insensible  to  the  value  of 
such  an  institution. 

But  the  living  must  not  alone  be  remembered  on 
such  an  occasion  as  this.  I  cannot  forget  the  generous 
gift  of  that  intelligent  and  enlightened  publisher,  whose 

0  Mrs.  Sally  Inraan  Kast  Shepard. 


24 


name  had  so  long  been  the  best  guaranty  of  a  good 
book,  and  whom  few  of  us  can  miss  from  the  scenes  of 
his  useful  and  honorable  occupations,  without  a  keen 
sense  of  personal  and  of  public  loss,  —  JAMES  BROWN. 

I  cannot  forget,  either,  the  even  earlier  contribution 
of  that  kind-hearted  and  venerable  merchant,  SAMUEL 
APPLETON,  whose  countless  benefactions  to  our  commu- 
nity will  render  hi$  memory  fragrant  to  a  thousand 
generations. 

Still  less  may  I  omit  to  allude  to  the  recent  most 
liberal  and  noble  bequest  of  the  lamented  ABBOTT  LAW- 
RENCE, —  a  bequest  which  we  would  all  have  prayed 
heaven  still  longer  to  postpone.  His  life  was  better  to 
us  than  any  legacy, — for  his  heart,  untouched  to  the 
last  even  by  the  cruel  disease  wrhich  pervaded  and  par- 
alyzed every  other  organ,  was  in  every  good  cause,  and 
his  hand  wras  ever  ready  to  sustain  what  his  heart 
approved. 

These  all,  and  still  other  honored  names  will  be 
found  inscribed  on  the  memorials  which  we  are  about 
to  deposit  beneath  this  massive  stone.  They  are  not, 
however,  about  to  be  buried  out  of  our  remembrance. 
They  will  be  registered  "  where  every  day  we  may  turn 
the  leaf  to  read  them."  They  will  be  inscribed  on  the 
hearts  of  all  true  Bostonians,  and  our  children  and  our 
children's  children  will  repeat  them  as  the  names  of  the 
earliest  friends  and  benefactors  of  an  institution,  which 
is  destined,  in  all  time  to  come,  to  be  the  source  of  so 
much  true  satisfaction,  and  the  subject  of  so  much  just 
pride. 

I  have  reminded  you,  Fellow  Citizens,  that  we  had 
fortunately  been  able  to  appropriate  to  this  occasion 


25 


the  anniversary  of  the  foundation  of  our  City.  But  I 
cannot  but  remember  that  it  is  the  anniversary  of 
another  great  and  memorable  event  in  more  recent 
American  history. 

"  Done  in  Convention,  by  the  unanimous  consent  of 
the  States  present,  the  seventeenth  day  of  September, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  twelfth.  In  witness 
whereof  we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  President" 

Such  is  the  final  clause,  and  such  the  illustrious 
attestation,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, — 
whose  formation  is  thus  forever  identified  with  the  day 
on  which  we  are  assembled. 

I  hail  the  omen  of  a  coincidence  which  thus  binds 
together,  by  the  associations  of  a  common  anniver- 
sary, the  birthday  of  our  City  and  the  birthday  of  the 
Federal  Constitution.  Let  us  renew  our  pledges  of 
fidelity  to  them  both.  Let  us  accept  the  full  import 
and  cherish  the  whole  significance  of  that  coincidence, 
and  embrace  our  entire  Country  in  the  good  wishes  of 
this  occasion.  And  while  we  lay  these  foundations  in 
the  hope  and  in  the  confidence  that  they  will  never  be 
overturned  nor  shaken,  let  us  hope  and  trust,  also,  that 
they  will  not  survive  either  the  City  in  whose  service 
and  by  whose  authority  they  are  laid,  or  the  Liberty  of 
which  that  city  was  the  cradle,  or  the  Union  which  is 
the  best  and  only  sure  guaranty  of  that  liberty.  May 
these  walls  never  witness  a  decayed  Boston,  a  prostrate 
Freedom,  or  a  divided  Nation  ! 


26 


It  only  remains  for  me,  Mr.  Mayor,  in  the  name  of 
my  brother  Commissioners,  —  to  whose  faithful  and 
valuable  co-operation  in  executing  thus  far  the  trust 
committed  to  us,  I  hope  I  may  be  permitted  thus 
briefly  to  bear  witness,  —  to  invite  you  to  proceed  to 
the  ceremony  for  which  we  are  assembled,  and  to 
deliver  to  you  this  Trowel,  which  has  been  prepared  for 
the  purpose,  and  which  is  to  be  preserved  as  a  memo- 
rial of  the  occasion.  It  is,  as  you  perceive,  Sir,  of  no 
precious  material  or  elaborate  workmanship,  but  we 
are  satisfied  that  it  will  derive  a  more  than  common 
interest  and  value  from  the  service  in  which  you  are 
about  to  employ  it. 

And,  in  the  language  of  our  City  motto,  "May 
God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  Fathers  !  " 


In  closing  this  Address,  Mr.  Winthrop,  in  behalf  of  the  Com- 
missioners, presented  a  new  and  beautifully  burnished  steel  trowel 
to  the  Mayor,  who,  on  receiving  it,  replied  as  follows : 


27 


ADDRESS, 

BY   HIS   HONOR   JEROME    V.  C.   SMITH,    MAYOR. 

FELLOW  CITIZENS  :  —  The  laying  of  this  corner-stone, 
with  solemn  ceremonies,  will  be  regarded  in  after  times 
as  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Boston. 

The  Commissioners  having  in  charge  the  responsi- 
bility of  carrying  forward  to  completion  the  edifice  so 
auspiciously  commenced,  happily  for  themselves,  enjoy 
the  perfect  confidence  of  a  community  appreciating 
the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  studying  the  opin- 
ions, the  published  attainments  and  suggestions  of 
those  who  have  preceded  them  on  the  active  stage  of 
life,  which  are  to  be  collected  here  and  systematically 
arranged. 

You,  Mr.  President,  the  descendant,  and  bearing  the 
name  of  one  who  is  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  the 
country,  and  who  assisted  in  the  first  settlement  of 
Boston,  a  theatre  on  which  extraordinary  movements 
have  since  transpired,  have  an  opportunity  on  this  occa- 
sion of  being  identified  with  a  celebration  occurring  on 
the  two  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anniversary,  that  will 
transmit  your  patriotic  services  most  favorably  to  re- 
mote generations,  associated  with  the  intelligence  and 
public  spirit  of  your  birthplace. 

While  monuments  raised  to  perpetuate  the  remem- 
brance of  great  events  may  have  wasted  away,  and 
the  special  objects  for  which  they  were  reared  are  lost 


28 


to  the  archives  of  chronology  in  the  revolutions  to 
which  nations  are  incident,  those  provisions  which  con- 
template the  intellectual  advancement  of  man  are  the 
surest  and  most  hopefully  calculated  to  endure  through 
the  ever-changing  conditions  of  society. 

Civilization  is  essentially  dependent  for  its  progress 
on  the  labors  of  those  who  have  wrought  out  problems 
in  the  various  departments  which  they  occupied,  and 
whose  collected  wisdom  in  books  is  the  common  foun- 
tain from  which  each  succeeding  age  takes  a  departure 
for  new  explorations  into  the  regions  of  imagination, 
art,  literature  and  science. 

The  moral  atmosphere,  the  claims  of  Christianity, 
domestic  comfort  and  economy,  the  courtesies,  influ- 
ence and  dignity  of  any  people,  are  best  sustained 
where  the  public  sentiment  is  habitually  directed  and 
strengthened  by  a  judicious  system  jof  general  educa- 
tion. 

This  Free  Library  will  secure,  if  human  foresight  can 
accomplish  it,  the  certain  means  of  supplying  every 
man,  woman  and  child,  who  are  qualified  to  read, 
within  our  boundaries,  with  an  unfailing  source  of 
intellectual  gratification  and  rational  enjoyment. 

When  this  large  concourse  of  spectators,  —  the 
crowds  of  moving,  thinking  beings,  who  are  threading 
their  way  through  the  narrow  streets,  and  the  busy 
inhabitants  residing  in  pleasant  habitations,  have  re- 
turned to  rest  in  the  bosom  of  their  mother  earth,  and 
even  a  far  larger  population  shall  be  standing  in  their 
places,  who  are  yet  unborn,  and  the  thronged  avenues 
extended  beyond  their  present  limits  to  the  surround- 
ing environs;  this  noble  institution,  we  fondly  trust, 


29 


will  remain  firmly  established,  braced  and  defended 
against  the  assaults  of  ignorance,  fanaticism  or  politi- 
cal turmoil,  the  pride  and  crowning  glory  of  our 
beloved  City. 

Of  what  value  is  mere  wealth,  without  a  cultivation 
of  those  immortal  attributes  that  will  never  die  ? 
When  the  results  of  honest  industry  become  instru- 
mentalities for  developing  the  mind,  and  multiplying 
resources  for  bettering  the  conditions  of  humanity, 
society  is  permanently  advanced.  That  philosophy  is 
false  which  only  provides  for  the  few  what  God  in  his 
goodness  evidently  designed  for  all.  This  idea  has 
been  beautifully  illustrated  in  the  munificent  benefac- 
tions made  to  this  library.  Gentlemen  eminent  for 
their  probity,  elevated  positions,  energy  of  purpose, 
sympathy,  love  of  home  and  love  of  country,  have 
remembered  those  less  fortunate  than  themselves,  by 
bestowing  the  accumulations  of  successful  labor  with 
unsparing  liberality  on  this  long  to  be  cherished  temple 
of  knowledge.  Who  does  not  repeat  the  names  of 
JOSHUA-  BATES,  JONATHAN  PHILLIPS  and  ABBOTT  LAWRENCE 
with  feelings  of  respect  alone  due  to  exalted  moral 
worth  and  virtue  ?  May  their  example  in  the  infancy 
of  the  institution  tend  to  call  forth  a  fostering  patron- 
age in  other  directions  from  those  who  are  to  follow  in 
the  same  exhaustless  fields  of  enterprise,  that  a  current 
of  vitality  so  necessary  to  the  perpetuity  of  the  under- 
taking shall  never  cease  to  flow. 

Past  City  Councils  and  the  present,  have  discharged 
their  official  duties  acceptably  and  satisfactorily  to  a 
vigilant  public,  in  respect  to  their  legislation  for  the 
library.  Their  earnest  endeavors  to  give  form  and 


30 


character  to  the  designs  of  the  original  projectors, 
entitle  them  to  the  consideration  and  gratitude  of  their 
constituents.  Posterity  will  recognize  them  individu- 
ally as  faithful  servants,  who  planted  that  others  might 
participate  in  the  rich  fruits  of  the  harvest. 

Within  the  metallic  case,  let  into  this  huge  block  of 
stone,  hermetically  sealed,  is  a  brief  account  of  the 
preparations  for  the  transactions  in  which  we  are 
engaged,  with  various  documents,  chronicles,  a  register 
of  the  municipal  organization,  together  with  ordinances, 
coins,  the  city  newspapers  of  the  day,  an  engraved 
tablet,  and  photographic  miniatures. 

Contemplate  for  a  moment  that  distant  period  when 
this  fair  city  shall  have  expanded  over  a  territory  of 
many  miles  into  the  suburban  precincts,  and  adjacent 
cities  coalescing  with  the  population  and  increasing  it 
to  hundreds  of  thousands,  or  even  millions,  and  com- 
merce, manufactures,  and  industrial  pursuits,  have 
given  it  a  wide-spread  renown. 

A  point  of  culmination  will  come  at  last.  Decay, 
slow  but  sure,  like  the  admonitory  advances  of  gray 
hairs,  cannot  be  resisted.  Rival  ports  may  rise  to  view, 
the  old  familiar  channels  of  trade  become  choked,  till 
inch  by  inch,  weak  and  powerless,  the  stately  dwellings 
are  forsaken,  the  massive  warehouses  crumble  into 
ruin,  neglected  and  unowned.  In  the  last  phase  of  ap- 
proaching obliteration,  some  curious  antiquarian  trav- 
eller, —  stimulated  by  a  zeal  for  discovery,  may  search 
among  the  ruins  of  past  architectural  grandeur  for 
fragments  to  demonstrate  the  traditional  opulence  of 
the  ancient  capital  of  the  once  celebrated  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts. 


31 


The  memorials  about  to  be  lowered  into  place  are 
actually  designed  for  examination  when  all  these 
mighty  changes  have  been  effected.  What  emotions 
they  may  excite,  to  what  speculations  they  may  give 
rise,  or  to  what  conclusion  they  may  lead,  can  neither 
be  foretold  or  imagined. 

Should  the  language  in  which  they  are  written  be 
lost,  and  a  new  race,  speaking  a  dialect  not  yet  devised, 
hereafter  obtain  possession  of  our  delightful  inheritance, 
the  exact  representation  of  the  features  of  several 
persons  now  standing  in  your  presence  may  be  con- 
templated. 

In  short,  enough,  in  all  probability,  will  survive  the 
friction  of  some  coming  thousands  of  years,  should  no 
unforeseen  accident  occur  to  disturb  the  foundation,  to 
give  a  comprehensive  notion  of  the  arts,  social  order, 
government  and  tendencies  of  the  inhabitants  by  whom 
the  articles  were  fabricated. 

If  these  are  unprofitable  speculations,  they  are  both 
grave  and  agreeable  topics  for  reflection. 

Harmony  of  action  characterizes  the  inauguration  of 
this  favorite  institution.  Let  those  who  have  charge  of 
it  in  its  maturity  distinguish  themselves  by  a  faithful 
devotion  to  the  plan  marked  out  by  the  early  friends, 
still  living,  to  watch  over  its  infancy. 

In  closing  these  observations,  and  before  retiring 
from  the  ground  consecrated  to  the  use  of  all  citizens, 
of  every  denomination,  where  they  may  come  and 
learn  to  be  wise,  without  money  and  also  without  price, 
allow  me  to  remind  you  of  your  inestimable  privileges. 

Familiarity  with  our  blessings  may  eventuate  in 
carelessness  and  to  a  neglect  of  efforts  on  which  their 
stability  mainly  depends. 


32 


While  the  public  schools,  in  connection  with  this 
library,  are  confided  to  the  protection  of  gifted  conser- 
vators, Boston  may  challenge  the  world  for  a  parallel 
system  of  popular  education. 

Grateful  to  our  Puritan  forefathers,  who  in  com- 
mencing the  first  settlement  of  New  England,  made 
seasonable  preparations  for  the  free  education  of  the 
youth ;  it  is  the  undeniable  duty  of  ourselves  and  our 
successors  to  uphold  what  they  so  generously  estab- 
lished. 

Thanking  you,  gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  and 
you,  Mr.  President,  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  the 
Trustees,  the  donors,  whose  judicious  liberality  place 
us  under  a  weight  of  never  ending  obligation,  and  you, 
Fellow  Citizens,  who  have  extended  to  each  and  all  of 
us  a  sustaining  influence,  we  must  now  separate,  but 
with  grateful  recollections  of  the  past,  accompanied  by 
an  earnest  aspiration  for  the  continued  prosperity,  hap- 
piness and  untarnished  honor  of  the  City  of  Boston. 


33 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


On  the  conclusion  of  the  addresses,  the  Commissioners,  the  Trus- 
tees, the  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts, 
the  Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  one  of  the  principal  benefactors  of 
the  library,  and  others,  proceeded  to  the  Stone,  when  it  was  duly 
laid  by  his  Honor  J.  V.  C.  Smith,  Mayor  of  Boston,  in  the  name  of 
the  City,  after  the  boxes  containing  the  plate  and  the  various 
articles  described  in  the  Appendix  had  been  deposited  beneath  it. 

The  Mayor  then  returned  the  Trowel  to  the  President  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners,  and  delivered  the  Square  with  which  he 
had  verified  his  work  to  the  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Massachusetts,  both  of  them  to  be  preserved  as  memorials  of 
the  occasion. 


PSALM    CXVII. 

Sung  by  the  pupils  of  the  High  and  Normal  School,  with 
whom  the  assembled  multitude  united  :— 

From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies, 
Let  the  Creator's  praise  arise  ; 
Let  the  Redeemer's  name  be  sung, 
Through  every  land,  by  every  tongue. 

Eternal  are  thy  mercies,  Lord  ; 

Eternal  truth  attends  thy  word  : 

Thy  praise  shall  sound  from  shore  to  shore, 

Till  suns  shall  rise  and  set  no  more. 

5 


34 


The  exercises  were  closed  by  the  Rev.  E.  S.  GANNETT,  D.D., 
who  pronounced  the  following 


BENEDICTION. 

Now  unto  the  Supreme  and  Eternal  Mind  ;  to  Him  who  is  the 
Author  and  Upholder  of  all  Things,  the  former  of  our  bodies  and 
the  Father  cf  our  spirits  ;  whose  inspiration  giveth  understand- 
ing, and  without  whose  blessing  neither  can  the  purpose  of  our 
hearts  prosper  nor  the  labor  of  our  hands  be  crowned  with 
success  ;  to  Him  who,  we  trust,  will  be  with  us  and  with  our  chil- 
dren as  He  was  with  our  fathers  ;  to  God  only  wise,  be  glory, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  forever. 

And  may  the  love  of  God  our  Father,  and  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  be  with  us  all  henceforth  and  forever.  AMEN. 


APPENDIX. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    CORNER-STONE    AND    OF    THE    BOXES,    PLATE, 
AND   OTHER   ARTICLES   DEPOSITED   UNDER  IT. 


THE  Corner-Stone,  a  block  of  Connecticut  sand  stone,  weighing 
five  tons,  and  of  the  following  dimensions : 

Feet.       Inches. 

Length,          - '       -         -  5         11 

Breadth,  -  3         16 

Height,         -  3  2 

was  laid  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  foundations.  Within  the 
cavity,  in  the  lower  face  of  the  stone,  was  placed  a  box  made  of  a 
composition  resembling  brass,  of  the  following  dimensions :  — 

Length,     -  12 \  inches. 

Breadth,  -  10J       " 

Height,     -  8J       " 

In  the  box,  the  lid  of  which  was  securely  soldered,  were  the 
following  articles :  — 

1.  A  silver  plate,  measuring  seven  -and  seven-eighths  inches 
by  six  and  three-eighths,  and  weighing,  by  Troy  weight,  eleven 
and  one-eighth  ounces,  and  bearing  this  inscription  :  — 


36 


The  Corner-Stone  of  a  Building 

for  the 

Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston, 
Laid  on  the  17th  day  of  September, 

A.  D.  1855. 
It  being  the  225th  Anniversary  of  the  day  on  which 

Trimountaiiie  was  first  called  Boston, — 

In   presence   of   the   City   Council,   at   the   request   of 

The  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  Building, 

By  His  Honor, 
JEROME  V.  C.  SMITH,  Mayor. 

Commissioners  for  the  Building.  Trustees  of  the  Library. 

EGBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  EDWARD  EVERETT, 

Resident ;  President ; 


SAMUEL  G.  WARD, 
GEORGE  TICKNOR, 
NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF, 
CHARLES  WOODBERRY, 
JOSEPH  A.  POND, 


GEORGE  TICKNOR, 
JOHN  P.  BIGELOW, 
NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF, 
THOMAS  G.  APPLETON, 
JOSEPH  STORY. 


EDWARD  F.  PORTER. 

Librarian. 

EDWARD  CAPEN. 

Architect. 

CHARLES  K.  KIRBY. 

2.  Act  to  authorize  the  City  of  Boston  to  establish  a  Public 
Library,  approved  by  the  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  18 
March,    1848;    accepted   by   the   City  Council,  3  April,   1848. 
(Doc,  15.) 

3.  Eeport  of  the  Committee  on  the  Library  in  relation  to  the 
donations  received  from  the  City  of  Paris,  22  September,  1849. 
(Doc.  46.) 

4.  Communication  to  the  President  of  the  Common  Council 
from  His  Honor  John  P.  Bigelow,  Mayor,  transmitting  a  letter 
from  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  covering  a  catalogue  of  books  and 
documents  contributed  by  him  to  the  Public  Library,  19  June, 
1851.     (Doc.  51  ) 


37 

5.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  1  January, 
1852.     (Doc.  79.) 

6.  Message  of  His  Honor  Benjamin  Seaver,  Mayor,  on  the 
subject  of  a  Public  Library,  19  February,  1852.     (Doc.  10.) 

7.  Eeport  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  26  July, 
1852.     (Doc.  37.) 

8.  An  ordinance  in  relation  to  the  Public  Library,  establish- 
ing a  Board  of  Trustees,  passed  14  October,  1852.     (Doc.  57.) 

9.  Order  of  the  City  Council  appropriating  temporary  apart- 
ments for  establishing  and  accommodating  the  Public  Library,  9 
September,  1852. 

10.  Letter  from  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  dated  1  October,  1852, 
submitted  to  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,   18  October, 
1852. 

11.  Order  directing  the  Trustees  to  appropriate  a  suitable  hall 
for  the  deposit  and  arrangement  of  statues,  paintings  and  other 
memorials  of  public  benefactors  to  the  institutions  of  the  City,  9 
December,  1852. 

12.  An  act  of  the  Legislature  to  authorize  the  City  of  Boston 
to  found  and  maintain  a  Public  Library.     Approved  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, 12  March,  1853.     Accepted  by  the  City  Council,  14  April, 
1853. 

13.  Majority  and  Minority  Reports  on  the  subject  of  a  new 
building  for  the  City  Government  and  Public  Library  on  the  same 
site.     April,  1853.     (Doc.  31.) 

14.  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Public  Library  of  the  City 
of  Boston,  adopted  8  November,  1853. 

15.  Letter  from  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  dated  10  March,  1853, 
submitted  to  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  28  March,  1853. 

16.  Letter  from  Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  dated  14  April,  1853. 
Submitted  to  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  18  April,  1853, 
and  action  thereon. 

17.  Eirst  Annual  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Libra- 
ry, 12  November,  1853.     (Doc.  73.) 

18.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  recom- 
mending an  ordinance  for  the  establishment  of  a  Board  of  Com- 


38 

missioners  on  the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public  Library  of 
the  City  of  Boston,  23  February,  1854.     (Doc.  21.) 

19.  Librarian's  notice,  2  October,  1854. 

20.  Second  Annual  Eeport  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Li- 
brary, 31  October,  1854.     (Doc.  74.) 

21.  An  Ordinance  in  relation  to  the  Public  Library,  reported 
by  the  Committee  on  Ordinances,  as  amended,  28  December,  1854. 
(Doc,  114.) 

22.  An  Ordinance  for  the  establishment  of  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners on  the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public  Library  of 
the  City  of  Boston,  27  November,  1854.     (Doc.  120.) 

23.  The  Commissioners'  advertisement  for  designs  for  a  build- 
ing for  the  Public  Library,  with  map  annexed,  26  January,  1855. 

24.  Majority  and  Minority  Keports  recommending  the  adop- 
tion of  ordinances  in  addition  to  an  ordinance  relating  to  the 
erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public  Library :  also,  an  ordinance 
offered  by  Alderman  Washburn,  as  a  substitute  for  the  ordinance 
reported  by  the  majority  of  the  Committee,  5  March,  1855.    (Doc. 
19.) 

25.  First  Eeport  of  the  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  the  Public  Library,  9  March,  1855.     (Doc,  22.) 

26.  An  ordinance  in  addition  to  an  ordinance  providing  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of 
a  building  for  the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston.     Re- 
ported 29  March,  1855.     Passed  3  April,  1855.     (Doc.  26.) 

27.  Specifications  for  a  building  for  the  Public  Library,  6 
June,  1855.     (Doc,  46.) 

28.  Second  Report  of  the  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  the  Public  Library,  6  June,  1855.     (Doc.  46.) 

29.  Agreement  between  the  Commissioners  and  Nathan  Drake, 
Mason,  14  June,  1855. 

30.  Letter  from  Mrs.  S.  I.  K.  Shepard,  17  September,  1855. 

31.  Blank  Letter  of  acknowledgment  for  donations. 

32.  Catalogue  of  the  Public  Library,  April,  1854. 

33.  Municipal  Register  for  the  year  1855. 

34.  Auditor's  Report,  1854-55. 


39 

35.  Rules  of  the  School  Committee  and  Regulations  of  the 
Public  Schools  of  the  City  of  Boston  for  1855  ;  also,  organization 
of  the  Public  Schools  for  1855. 

36.  Boston  Directory  for  1855. 

37.  Boston  Almanac  for  1855. 

38.  Almanac  of  the  American  Tract  Society  for  1856,  printed 
in  advance. 

39.  Two  large  bronze  Medals  now  used  by  the  Massachusetts 
Humane  Society,  and  two  smaller  ones  of  silver,  in  sealed  metal- 
lic cases,  presented  by  Hon.  David  Sears,  President  of  the  Hu- 
mane Society. 

40.  Franklin  Medal  for  boys. 

41.  City  Medal  for  girls. 

42.  Silver  Coins  of  1855  ;  Dollar,  Half  Dollar,  Quarter  of 
a  Dollar,  Dime,  Half  Dime,  Three  Cent  Piece. 

43.  Copper  Coins  of  1855.     Cent,  Half  Cent. 

44.  Order  of  Exercises  and  Blank  Notes  of  Invitation. 

45.  Address  of  Mr.  Winthrop. 

46.  Address  of  the  Mayor. 

47.  Photographs  by  Whipple  and  Black : — 
Of  the  Mayor ; 

Of  the  Commissioners,  their  Clerk,  and  the  Architect,  in  a 
group ; 

Of  the  Trustees,  individually ; 

Of  George  W.  Messenger,  Esq.,  Alderman,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements,  and  Trustee  elect  on  the  part  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  ; 

And  of  Farnham  Plummer,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements  on  the  part  of  the  Common  Council. 

A  leaden  box  was  also  deposited  under  the  Corner  Stone, — 

13  inches  in  length, 

11      "      in  breadth, 

5      "      height, 

containing  a  copy  of  the  last  issue  of  the  Weekly  and  Daily 
Newspapers  published  in  the  City,  seventy  in  number. 


40 


LETTERS    AND    DOCUMENTS    BELONGING    TO    THE    HISTORY    OF    THE 

LIBRARY. 


The  first  donation  of  Books  received  by  the  City  Library, 
ninety-six  in  number,  came  by  way  of  International  Exchange, 
through  the  agency  of  Mons.  Alexandre  Vattemare,  of  Paris, 
and  has  been  made  a  matter  of  record  in  City  Document,  No.  46, 
for  the  year  1849. 

The  second,  in  point  of  time,  was  that  of  Hon.  Robert  C.  Win- 
throp,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  volumes,  sent 
to  the  Library  in  the  autumn  of  1849,  unaccompanied  by  any 
letter,  and  with  a  verbal  request  that  they  should  not  be  the 
subject  of  any  formal  notice.0 

Two  hundred  and  nineteen  volumes  were  next  received  from 
John  I).  W.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Roxbury,  and  other  smaller  con- 
tributions from  a  number  of  other  persons  soon  followed. 

From  this  point  the  History  of  the  progress  of  the  Library 
will  be  found  in  the  following  letters  and  documents : 


0  Mr.  Winthrop's  donation  elicited  the  following  expression  from  the  Hon. 
John  P.  Bigelow,  in  a  note  written  some  time  afterwards,  on  a  different  sub- 
ject, by  which  it  will  be  perceived  that  Mr.  EVERETT  had  already  promised  the 
large  contribution  which  soon  followed  ; — 

City  Hall,  October  31,  1849. 

°  °  °  °  °  I  thank  you  officially  for  your  noble  contribution  to  our  ("  in  esse  ") 
Free  Library.  It  is  the  first  American  stone  contributed  in  that  behalf, — the 
corner  one,  which  is  laid  most  fitly  by  the  descendant  of  the  founder  of  our 
free  Commonwealth.  Governor  Everett  promises  a  large  contribution, — so  that 
with  you  and  him  the  enterprise  is  already  in  successful  progress. 

Very  truly,  yours,  &c., 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW. 
Hon.  Mr.  Winthrop. 


41 


To  HENRY  B.  KOGERS,  ESQ.,  Chairman  pro  tern,  of  the  Board  of 

Aldermen. 

Boston,  August  5,  1850. 

SIR, — An  amount  of  money  having  been  contributed  by  some 
of  my  fellow  citizens  for  the  purpose  of  personal  kindness  to- 
wards myself,  I  have  obtained  their  permission  to  present  a  large 
portion  thereof  to  the  City,  in  aid  of  the  establishment  of  a  Tree 
Public  Library. 

I  accordingly  now  enclose  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  in 
the  hope  that  it  may  be  appropriated  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
object  proposed. 

The  want  of  such  an  institution  in  our  midst,  is  generally  ac- 
knowledged. It  has  an  important  prospective  bearing  upon  the 
moral  and  intellectual  character  of  the  people  of  Boston  ;  .and  I 
have  reason  to  know  that  there  are  many  persons  in  this  commu- 
nity, who  are  ready  to  tender  valuable  offerings  for  the  purpose  in 
view,  as  soon  as  it  shall  be  known  that  the  City  Government  is 
willing  to  receive  such  donations. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW. 


Alderman  Grant  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion : 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  August  5,  1850. 

Whereas,  His  Honor  the  Mayor  has  communicated  to  this 
Board,  that  he  has  received  a  sum  of  money,  which  was  subscribed 
by  his  fellow  citizens  (to  be  appropriated  for  his  personal  benefit,) 
as  a  tribute  of  their  respect,  and  whereas,  consent  has  been  ob- 
tained from  the  liberal  donors  of  the  money  (at  the  kind  sugges- 
tion of  the  Mayor,)  that  the  amount  be  appropriated  to  the 
establishment  of  a  Free  Public  Library ;  one  of  the '  most  desira- 
6 


42 

ble  and  useful  objects  to  which  it  could  be  given  ;  and  in  which 
all  classes  of  this  community  will  be  benefitted :  —  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  gratefully  accept  the  offered  sum  by  the 
Mayor,  of  one  thousand  dollars,  referred  to  above,  and  hereby 
request  the  Committee  of  the  City  Government  on  the  Library, 
to  proceed  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  and  as  far  as  the  means 
in  their  hands  will  justify,  to  carry  into  effect  the  establishment 
of  a  "  Free  Public  Library  ;" — assurance  having  been  given  from 
several  influential  and  wealthy  persons  of  their  readiness  to  co- 
operate in  the  measure,  as  soon  as  the  same  is  commenced. 

The  resolution  passed  unanimously. 

On  motion  of  Alderman  Holbrook,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  City  Clerk  furnish  His  Honor  the  Mayor  with 
a  certified  copy,  signed  by  the  Chairman  pro  tern.,  of  the  pream- 
ble and  resolution  offered  by  Alderman  Grant,  and  their  unani- 
mous acceptance. 


Cambridge,  7th  August,  1850. 

Sir, — You  are  aware  that  I  have  more  than  once  intimated  to 
you,  orally  and  in  writing,0  that  I  should  be  happy  to  give  my 


0  Extract  of  a  note  addressed  by  Mr.  Everett  to  Hon.  J.  P.  Bigelow,  then 
Mayor  of  the  City.     The  other  portion  of  the  note  relates  to  a  different  object. 

Cambridge,  22  Jan.,  1850. 
DEAR  SIH, — 

o  o  o  o  o  o  oo  o 

1  hope  you  will  be  able  to  do  something  this  year  toward  the  establishment 
of  a  City  Library.     I  shall  be  happy  to  offer  to  the  acceptance  of  the  City  my 
collection  of  public  documents,  whenever  you  think  it  will  be  convenient  to  the 
City  to  receive  them.     It  will  contain  near  one  thousand  volumes  when  some 
chasms,  which  I  hope  to  fill  this  winter,  are  supplied. 

Yours,  with  great  regard, 

E.  E. 

NOTE. — Mr.  Everett  had  more  than  once,  in  the  summer  of  1849,  intimated 
to  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  his  purpose  of  offering  his  collection  of  Public  Docu- 
ments to  the  City,  whenever  it  may  be  convenient  to  receive  them,  as  a  contri- 
bution toward  a  public  Library. 


43 

collection  of  Public  Documents  and  State  Papers  to  the  City. 
Perceiving  that  a  commencement  is  likely  to  he  made  toward  the 
establishment  of  a  Public  Library,  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  the 
City  Government,  that  this  collection  is  at  their  service,  whenever 
it  may  suit  their  convenience  to  receive  it. 

I  have  for  nearly  thirty  years  devoted  a  good  deal  of  time, 
labor,  and  expense  to  its  formation.  It  amounts  at  present  to 
about  one  thousand  volumes.  From  the  foundation  of  the  Gov- 
ernment up  to  the  year  1825,  when  I  first  went  to  Congress,  it 
contains  every  thing  material.  While  I  was  in  Congress,  I  took 
great  pains  to  preserve  and  bind  up  every  document  published  by 
either  house  ;  and  from  that  time  to  the  year  1 840,  when  I  went 
abroad,  the  collection  is  tolerably  complete.  It  is  my  intention  to 
add  to  it,  as  far  as  they  can  be  procured,  the  documents  since 
published ;  and  I  omit  no  opportunity  of  supplying  the  deficien- 
cies in  other  parts  of  the  series. 

In  addition  to  the  State  Papers  and  Public  Documents,  the 
collection  contains  other  works  connected  with  the  civil  and  politi- 
cal history  of  the  country. 

I  hope  it  will  not  be  thought  intrusion  in  me  to  express  the 
opinion,  that,  if  the  City  Government  would  provide  a  suitable 
building  for  a  Public  Library,  it  would  be  so  amply  supplied  from 
time  to  time  by  donations,  that  only  a  moderate  annual  appropri- 
ation for  books  would  be  wanted.  Such  an  establishment  would 
be  an  object  of  public  favor  from  the  outset.  The  people  would 
regard  it  as  their  own  creation,  and  take  a  pride  in  its  increase. 
Authors  and  publishers  would  feel  it  an  honor  to  place  their  pub- 
lications on  its  shelves.  There  is  hardly  a  citizen  who  would  not 
have  the  ability  and  disposition  to  add  something  valuable  to  it ; 
and  from  time  to  time  large  and  important  additions  might  be 
expected  by  gift  or  bequest.  Within  the  last  thirty  years,  two 
additions  have  been  made  in  this  way  to  the  British  Museum, 
which  have  probably  doubled  the  size  and  value  of  that  noble 
collection. 

If  on  a  lot  of  public  land,  a  building  were  commenced,  aiming 
at  nothing  but  convenience  and  neatness,  (and  all  attempts  to  go 


44 

farther  in  architecture  are  almost  sure  to  fail,)  and  so  planned  as 
to  admit  future  enlargement,  the  first  expense  need  not  exceed  that 
of  one  of  those  numerous  school-houses,  of  which  the  City  does 
not  hesitate  to  erect  one  every  two  or  three  years.  The  more  re- 
tired the  situation  the  better.  The  Library  ought  not  to  be  a  show 
place  for  strangers,  nor  lounge  for  idlers ;  but  a  quiet  retreat  for 
persons  of  both  sexes  who  desire  earnestly  to  improve  their  minds. 

Such  a  Library  would  put  the  finishing  hand  to  that  system  of 
public  education,  which  lies  at  the  basis  of  the  prosperity  of  Bos- 
ton, and  with  her  benevolent  institutions,  gives  her  so  much  of 
her  name  and  praise  in  the  land. 

I  ought  to  ask  your  indulgence  for  going  so  far  beyond  the  im- 
mediate object  of  this  letter.  Though  not  a  native  of  Boston, 
nor  at  this  time  an  inhabitant  there,  I  am  indebted  to  her  for  a 
considerable  part  of  my  schooling,  and  feel  the  deepest  interest  in 
her  welfare. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  high  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

EDWARD  EVERETT. 
His  HONOR  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW. 


CITY    OF    BOSTON. 


In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  Aug.  12,  1850. 

A  communication  having  been  received  from  the  Honorable 
Edward  Everett,  expressive  of  his  desire  to  give  to  the  City  his 
collection  of  Public  Documents  and  State  Papers,  towards  the 
establishment  of  a  Public  Library,  therefore — 

Voted,  That  the  City  Council,  entertaining  a  deep  sense  of  the 
value  and  importance  of  the  Papers  collected  by  the  Hon.  Edward 


45 

Everett,  will  receive  the  same  whenever  a  suitable  place  shall  be 
provided  in  which  they  can  be  deposited,  and  in  behalf  of  the  citi- 
zens, return  their  thanks  to  him  for  his  generosity  and  public 
spirit. 

Voted,  That  the  Mayor  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  preamble  and  vote,  to  the  Honorable  Mr.  Everett. 

Passed  unanimously. 
Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  August  20,  1850. 
Concurred  by  an  unanimous  vote. 

FBANCIS  BEINLEV,  President. 


City  Sail,  June  19,  1851. 

Sin, — I  transmit  for  the  information  of  the  Council  a  com- 
munication which  I  have  received  from  the  Honorable  Edward 
Everett,  covering  a  Catalogue  of  Books  and  Documents  contribu- 
ted by  him  to  the  Public  Library.  The  suggestions  and  senti- 
ments expressed  in  the  letter  are  entitled  to  especial  consideration 
for  their  intrinsic  value,  as  well  as  on  account  of  the  honored 
source  whence  they  emanate.  If  published,  (as  I  presume  the 
Council  will  authorize,)  they  will  effectively  aid  in  establishing  an 
institution,  which  has  an  important  prospective  bearing  upon  the 
moral  and  intellectual  character  of  Boston. 

Besides  the  donation  of  Mr.  Everett,  the  Library  contains  one 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  volumes  contributed  by  the  Hon.  Robert 
C.  Winthrop :  two  hundred  and  nineteen  volumes  by  John  D.  W. 
Williams,  Esq.,  (of  Eoxbury,)  and  ninety-six  volumes  by  Alex- 
andre  Vattemare.  Valuable  contributions  have  likewise  been 
made  by  Eev.  J.  B.  McMahan,  Ezra  Weston,  Esq.,  and  others, — 
the  whole  number  of  books  now  collected  amounting  to  two  thou- 
sand volumes.  The  Committee  on  the  Library  have  funds  at 


46 

their  control  which  will  probably  enable  them  to  increase  the 
number  to  four  thousand  volumes  before  the  expiration  of  the 
year ;  and  if  the  example  of  the  public  spirited  citizens,  who 
have  been  named,  should  exert  its  proper  influence  in  the  commu- 
nity, the  City  will,  within  a  short  period,  possess  the  largest  and 
most  valuable  Municipal  Library  in  the  country. 

Eespectfully,  &c. 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW. 
To  the  President  of  the  Common  Council. 


Cambridge,  7th  June,  1851. 

SIR, — I  beg  leave  to  transmit  to  you  herewith  for  the  informa- 
tion of  the  City  Government,  a  Catalogue  of  the  Books  contained 
in  the  collection  of  State  Papers  and  other  works,  which  I  had  the 
honor  of  offering  to  the  acceptance  of  the  City  last  year,  as  a  con- 
tribution toward  a  Public  Library.  The  number  of  the  volumes 
is  about  a  thousand,  and  I  hope  to  have  it  in  my  power  hereafter 
to  render  the  collection  of  Public  Documents  more  complete. 

I  remain  of  the  opinion,  which  I  took  the  liberty  of  expressing 
last  year,  that  if  the  City  would  provide  a  suitable  building, 
affording  present  accommodation  for  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand 
volumes,  and  so  constructed  as  to  admit  of  enlargement  hereafter, 
a  valuable  Public  Library  would  very  soon  be  formed  by  donation. 
A  place  of  deposit  thus  provided,  the  Library  I  feel  confident, 
would  steadily  increase.  Large  collections  of  Books  would  occa- 
sionally be  presented,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  from  indi- 
viduals, and  especially  from  authors,  editors,  and  publishers  be- 
longing to  Boston,  single  works  would  be  constantly  coming  in. 
If  in  addition  to  these  sources  of  increase,  a  moderate  appropria- 
tion were  annually  made  by  the  City  for  the  purchase  of  works  of 
a  class  not  likely  to  be  presented, — a  large  Public  Library,  with 
assurance  of  regular  increase,  would  soon  be  added  to  the  means 
of  Education,  possessed  by  the  citizens  of  Boston.  The  cost  of  a 


suitable  building  need  not  exceed  that  of  one  of  the  larger  School 
Houses. 

In  the  letter  which  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  to  you  on  the 
7th  of  August  last,  I  spoke  of  such  a  Library  as  the  completion 
of  that  noble  system  of  Public  Instruction,  which  reflects  so  much 
honor  upon  the- City  and  does  so  much  to  promote  its  prosperity. 
I  am  anxious  to  give  greater  prominence  to  this  view  of  the  sub- 
ject than  it  has  yet  perhaps  received. 

The  City  of  Boston  expends  annually,  I  believe,  a  larger  sum 
for  Schools  and  School  Houses,  in  proportion  to  its  population, 
than  any  city  in  Europe.  Nothing  like  the  same  sum  is  appro- 
priated by  the  City  of  London  for  these  purposes.  By  this  noble 
liberality  the  means  are  prov^ed  for  giving  our  children  of  both 
sexes  a  good  education  up  to  the  age  of  sixteen  or  seventeen 
years.  This  is  done  at  the  public  expense  and  for  public  motives. 
Individuals,  as  such,  have  no  more  claim  upon  the  public  for  their 
education  than  for  their  board  and  clothing.  The  first  principles 
of  popular  government  require  that  the  means  of  education  should, 
as  far  as  possible,  be  equally  within  the  reach  of  the  whole  popu- 
lation. This  can  be  effected  in  no  other  way  than  by  a  system  of 
Education  supported  by  the  public.  The  same  great  motive  of 
public  policy  requires  that  the  Schools  should  be  of  a  very  supe- 
rior order,  so  that  every  child  may  receive  not  merely  an  educa- 
tion, but  an  excellent  education ; — as  good  as  could  be  got  at 
the  best  and  most  expensive  private  Schools.  I  know  of  no  place 
where  these  principles  are  so  thoroughly  carried  out  as  in  Boston  ; 
in  other  words,  where  so  great  an  equality  exists  in  reference  to 
the  inestimable  benefit  of  an  early  education. 

This  however  is  the  case  only  up  to  the  age  when  School  educa. 
tion  is  at  an  end.  We  provide  our  children  with  the  elements  of 
learning  and  science,  and  put  it  in  their  power  by  independent 
study  and  research  to  make  further  acquisitions  of  useful  knowl- 
edge from  books, — but  where  are  they  to  find  the  books  in 
which  it  is  contained  ?  Here  the  noble  principle  of  equality  sadly 
fails.  The  sons  of  the  wealthy  alone  have  access  to  well-stored 
libraries  ;  while  those  whose  means  do  not  allow  them  to  purchase 


48 

books  are  too  often  debarred  from  them  at  the  moment  when  they 
would  be  most  useful.  We  give  them  an  elementary  education, 
impart  to  them  a  taste  and  inspire  them  with  an  earnest  desire  for 
further  attainment, — which  unite  in  making  books  a  necessary  of 
intellectual  life, — and  then  make  no  provision  for  supplying  them. 

I  would  not  overrate  the  importance  of  book  learning.  It  is  of 
little  value  without  original  inquiry  and  original  thought.  But 
good  books  are  the  record  of  the  original  inquiry  and  thought  of 
able  men ; — which  surely  do  not  lose  their  value  by  being  put 
upon  paper  for  the  benefit  of  others.  Every  one  regards  an  op- 
portunity of  personal  intercourse  with  men  eminent  for  talent  and 
learning  as  a  great  privilege  and  source  of  improvement; — to 
study  their  works  is  most  effectually  to  cultivate  this  intercourse. 
It  is  generally  impossible,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  to  have 
personal  intercourse  with  any  persons  of  eminence  except  a  very 
few  of  our  own  countrymen  and  cotemporaries.  By  books  we  get 
access  to  the  great  men  of  every  country  and  every  age. 

Is  it  not  then  a  reproach  to  our  City,  that, — as  far  as  the  means 
of  carrying  on  the  great  work  of  instruction  beyond  the  limits  of 
School  Education  are  concerned, — no  public  provision  exists  in 
favor  of  those  unable  to  indulge  in  what  is  now  the  expensive 
luxury  of  a  large  library?  Where  is  the  young  engineer,  ma- 
chinist, architect,  chemist,  engraver,  painter,  or  student  in  any  of 
the  professions  or  of  any  of  the  exact  sciences,  or  of  any  branch 
of  natural  history,  or  of  moral  or  intellectual  philosophy, — to  get 
access  to  the  books  which  are  absolutely  necessary  to  enable  him 
to  pursue  his  inquiries  to  any  advantage  ?  There  are  no  libraries 
in  Boston  which  strictly  speaking  are  public.  The  library  of  the 
Athenaeum  and  other  similar  collections  are  private  property. 
They  are  administered  with  all  practicable  liberality ;  but  are  not 
and  cannot  be  open  to  the  public.  Nothing  is  left  to  young  men 
who  cannot  afford  to  buy  books  but  to  borrow  them  of  individ- 
uals ; — a  very  precarious  and  inadequate  dependence  and  one  of 
which  but  very  few  can  take  advantage. 

For  these  reasons  I  cannot  but  think  that  a  Public  Library, 
well  supplied  with  books  in  the  various  departments  of  art  and 


49 

science,  and  open  at  all  times  for  consultation  and  study  to  the 
citizens  at  large,  is  absolutely  needed  to  make  our  admirable  sys- 
tem of  Public  Education  complete  ;  and  to  continue  in  some  good 
degree  through  life  that  happy  equality  of  intellectual  privileges, 
which  now  exists  in  our  Schools,  but  terminates  with  them.  And 
I  feel  confident  that  with  such  moderate  co-operation  as  I  have 
indicated,  on  the  part  of  the  City,  reliance  may  be  safely  placed 
upon  individuals  to  do  the  rest.  The  Public  Library  would  soon 
become  an  object  of  pride  to  the  citizens  of  Boston ;  and  every 
one  would  feel  it  an  honor  to  do  something  for  its  increase. 

I  remain,  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

EDWAED  EVERETT. 
His  HONOR  THE  MAYOR  OF  BOSTON. 


112  WASHINGTON  STREET,  June  28,  1852. 
HON.  MR.  EVERETT: 

DEAR  SIR, — I  beg  you  to  accept  my  promise  to  pay  for  five 
hundred  dollars'  worth  of  books,  to  be  selected  by  you  when  you 
please  and  from  whatever  shop  you  please,  for  the  City  Library. 
I  should  hesitate  to  give  you  the  trouble  of  selecting,  but  on  recol- 
lection, I  thought  you  could  readily  write  out  the  list  now,  when 
the  collection  has  but  just  commenced  to  be  made,  and  there  would 
be  no  fear  of  duplicates.  Please  to  make  the  money  go  as  far  as 
it  will,  without  regard  to  our  shelves. 

I  am  respectfully  and  faithfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  BEOWN. 
HON.  MR.  EVERETT. 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  Oct.  25,  1852. 
Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Trustees  be  returned  to  Mr. 

Brown  for  his  liberal  donation. 

Attest,  EDWAED  CAPEN,  Secretary. 

7 


50 


Boston,  Sept.  24,  1852. 
To  THE  HON.  BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  MAYOR  OF  BOSTON  : 

SIR, — I  enclose  you  my  check,  on  the  Columbian  Bank,  for  one 
thousand  dollars,  which  sum  I  wish  appropiated  to  the  purchase  of 
books  for  the  Public  Library  lately  established  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  City  of  Boston. 

Having  perfect  confidence  in  the  very  able  board  of  Trustees, 
which  has  been  appointed,  I  leave  to  them  the  selection  of  the 
books,  not  doubting  they  will  exclude  all  of  a  hurtful  tendency, 
and  select  such  books  as  will  be  read,  having  for  their  basis  piety, 
morality,  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  general  usefulness. 

With  much  respect,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

SAMUEL  APPLETON. 


City  Hall,  Boston,  Sept.  24fA,  1852. 

SIR, — I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter,  of  this  date,  enclosing  your  check,  on  the  Columbian  Bank, 
for  one  thousand  dollars,  "  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of 
books  for  the  Public  Library,  lately  established  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  City  of  Boston,"  and  I  assure  you  that  the  Trustees 
of  the  Library  will,  in  the  use  of  the  money,  be  governed  by  your 
judicious  suggestions.  In  behalf  of  the  Trustees,  I  thank  you 
for  this  liberal  and  opportune  donation,  and  trust  that  you  may, 
ere  long,  witness  the  usefulness  of  the  Institution  you  have  so 
generously  assisted. 

With  the  ardent  wish  that  your  life,  so  distinguished  by  acts  of 
liberality  to  Public  Institutions,  and  adorned  by  deeds  of  charity 
to  your  fellow  men,  which  are  equally  honorable  to  yourself  and 
to  our  City,  may  long  be  spared, 

I  remain,  with  sentiments  of  the  highest  respect, 
Yours,  most  truly, 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER. 
SAMUEL  APFLETON,  ESQ. 


51 


FIRST   LETTER  OF   MR.   BATES. 

London,  1st  October,  1852. 

DEAR  SIR, — I  am  indebted  to  you  for  a  copy  of  the  Report  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library  for  the  City  of  Boston,  which 
I  have  perused  with  great  interest,  being  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance, to  the  rising  and  future  generations,  of  such  a  Library 
as  is  recommended ;  and  while  I  am  sure  that,  in  a  liberal  and 
wealthy  community  like  that  of  Boston,  there  will  be  no  want  of 
funds  to  carry  out  the  recommendation  of  the  Trustees,  it  may 
accelerate  its  accomplishment,  and  establish  the  Library  at  once  on 
a  scale  that  will  do  credit  to  the  City,  if  I  am  allowed  to  pay  for 
the  books  required,  which  I  am  quite  willing  to  do — thus  leav- 
ing to  the  City  to  provide  the  building  and  take  care  of  the 
expenses. 

The  only  condition  I  ask  is,  that  the  building  shall  be  such  as 
shall  be  an  ornament  to  the  City — that  there  shall  be  room  for 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  to  sit  at  reading 
tables — that  it  shall  be  perfectly  free  to  all,  with  no  other  restric- 
tions than  may  be  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  books. 
What  the  building  may  cost,  I  am  unable  to  estimate ;  but  the 
books— counting  additions  during  my  life-time — I  estimate  at 
$50,000,  which  I  shall  gladly  contribute,  and  consider  it  but 
a  small  return  for  the  many  acts  of  confidence  and  kindness 
I  have  received  from  my  many  friends  in  your  City. 

Believe  me,  dear  sir, 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOSHUA  BATES. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  ESQ., 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Boston. 


52 


CITY  OF  BOSTON.  1 

In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  October  18,  1852.  J 

Resolved,  That  this  Board  is  deeply  sensible  to  the  enlightened 
generosity  of  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  as  manifested  in  the  offer  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  purchase  of  hooks  for  the  Public 
Library,  and  that  the  thanks  of  the  City  Council  be  returned  to 
him,  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Boston,  for  this  seasonable  and 
munificent  provision,  which  ensures  the  speedy  establishment  of 
the  Library  on  a  liberal  scale,  and  reflects  the  greatest  honor 
upon  the  patriotism  of  the  donor. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  letter  from  Mr.  Bates  be  placed 
upon  the  records  of  the  City  Council,  and  that  an  attested  copy 
of  these  proceedings  be  transmitted  to  him  by  the  Mayor. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bates'  letter,  with  the  proceedings  of  the 
City  Council  thereon,  be  referred  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Public 
Library,  with  instructions  to  report  to  the  City  Council  such 
measures  as  it  may  be  proper  to  adopt  in  the  premises  with  a 
view  to  give  effect  to  the  liberal  provision  of  Mr.  Bates. 

Passed  unanimously.     Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVEB,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  October  21,  1852. 
Passed  unanimously  in  concurrence. 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  Resident. 


In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  December  6,  1852. 

Whereas,  the  City  Council  of  Boston  are  deeply  impressed 
with  a  feeling  of  gratitude  for  the  late  munificent  gift  of 
Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  and  are  desirous  of  manifesting  to  him  and 
to  other  distinguished  benefactors  of  the  City,  a  sense  of  its 
obligation  for  benefits  received,  it  is  therefore 

Ordered,  That  whenever  an  edifice  is  constructed  for  the  Pub  • 


53 


lie  Library,  the  Trustees  be  and  they  hereby  are  directed  to 
appropriate  a  suitable  hall  for  the  deposit  and  arrangement  of 
statues,  paintings,  and  other  memorials  of  those  persons  who 
have  distinguished  themselves,  or  shall  hereafter  distinguish 
themselves,  by  acts  of  liberality  to  the  religious,  charitable,  or 
literary  institutions  of  the  City. 

Eead  and  passed.     Sent  down  for  concurrence.      Came  up 
concurred,  Dec.  9th. 


To  THE  MAYOR  AND  ALDERMEN  OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON  : 

GENTLEMEN, — By  the  public  journals  of  this  day  I  see  you 
have  purchased  (and  I  believe  very  judiciously,)  an  estate  on 
Somerset  street  in  this  City,  for  the  erection  of  a  building  for  a 
free  City  Library.  Enclosed,  I  send  you  my  check  for  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  institution — to  be 
expended  by  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  in  furnishing  any  of  the 
room,  or  rooms  of  the  said  building  when  the  same  is  completed, 
or  expend  the  same  in  the  purchasing  of  books  for  the  benefit 
and  use  of  the  said  Library  as  in  their  judgment  may  seem 
best. 

Gentlemen,  I  remain, 

Yours,  with  much  esteem, 

JAMES  NIGHTINGALE. 
Boston,  March  5,  1853. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON.  \ 

In  Board  of  Miyor  and  Aldermen,  March  7,  1853.  / 

Head,  and  referred  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library. 
Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

BENJ.  SEAVER,  Mayor. 


54 

In  Common  Council,  March  10,  1853. 
Concurred. 

HENRY  J.  GAEDNER,  President 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  April  25,  1853. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Trustees  he  given  to  Mr. 
Nightingale  for  his  liberal  donation ;  and  that  the  Committee 
on  the  purchase  of  books  be  directed  to  expend  the  same  in 
books,  inserting  the  name  of  Mr.  Nightingale  in  each. 

Attest:  EDWARD  CAPEN,  Secretary. 


London,  Wth  March,  1S53. 

To  His  HONOR  BENJAMIN  SHAVER, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Boston. 

« 
DEAR  SIR, — I  have  received  the  Resolutions  passed  by  the 

City  Council  of  Boston,  on  the  21st  of  October,  which  you  have 
done  me  the  favor  to  transmit  to  me,  and  am  gratified  to  learn 
by  them,  that  the  assistance  I  had  so  much  pleasure  in  offering 
to  your  Free  Public  Library,  is  so  favorably  received.  Be  pleased 
then  to  draw  on  me  for  a  sum  sufficient  to  contribute  a  fund  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  held  by  the  City  of  Boston  in  trust, 
that  its  entire  income,  but  only  its  income,  shall  in  each  and 
every  year  hereafter  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  such  books 
of  permanent  value  and  authority,  as  may  be  found  most  needed 
and  most  useful,  and  that  the  City  will,  so  soon  as  it  may  con- 
veniently be  done,  provide  and  always  hereafter  maintain  a  suit- 
able establishment  for  a  Free  Public  Library,  in  which  arrange- 
ments shall  be  made  for  the  comfortable  accommodation,  at  one 
and  the  same  time,  and  at  all  proper  hours  of  the  day  and  even- 
ing, for  at  least  one  hundred  readers. 

Wishing  to  this  generous  and  wise  institution,  in  which  I  shall 
always  feel  an  interest,  all  the  success  you  can  desire  for  it,  and 


55 

wishing  all  happiness  and  prosperity  to  your  City  and  its  citi- 
zens, with  whom  I  have  so  many  pleasant  associations, 

I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

JOSHUA  BATES. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON.  \ 

In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  March  28,  1853.  / 

Eeferred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  with  au- 
thority to  consider  and  report  thereon. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  March  31,  1853. 
Concurred. 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  President. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON,  "I 

April  12,  1853.  j 

The  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  the  Public  Library  to  whom 
was  referred  the  letter  of  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  dated  London, 
10th  March,  1853,  beg  leave  respectfully  to 

REPORT: 

That  agreeably  to  the  authority  contained  in  said  letter,  the 
Mayor  has  drawn  on  Mr.  Bates  for  his  donation  to  the  Library, 
amounting  to  fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  sum  has,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Committee  on  Finance,  been  loaned  to  the  City, 
subject  to  the  conditions  affixed  by  Mr.  Bates,  at  an  interest  of  6 
per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  semi-annually. 

For  the  Committee, 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Chairman. 


56 


In  Common  Council,  April  14,  1853. 
Read  and  accepted.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  President. 

In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  April  18,  1853. 

Concurred. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Mayor. 


Boston,  April  \\tli,  1853. 
To  THE  MAYOR  AND  ALDERMEN  OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON  : 

GENTLEMEN, — Allow  me  through  you  respectfully  to  offer  for 
the  acceptance  of  the  City  of  Boston,  in  aid  of  their  City  Library, 
ten  thousand  dollars,  to  he  forever  held  and  treated  as  a  trust 
fund — the  income  of  which  shall  be  used  exclusively  for  the  pur- 
chase of  books  for  said  Library  ;  and  if,  from  any  cause  whatso- 
ever, shall  at  any  time  happen  a  diminution  of  the  capital}"  then 
the  income  is  to  accumulate  and  be  added  to  the  capital  until  its 
original  amount  shall  be  entirely  restored. 

The  past  and  present  character  of  the  City  of  Boston  is  a 
sufficient  pledge  that  a  trust  confided  to  its  care  will  be  faith- 
fully and  correctly  performed,  and  I  cannot  discern  in  the  future, 
a  possibility  that  its  integrity  may  be  impaired  or  its  fair  repu- 
tation forfeited. 

In  truth  every  son  of  Boston  justly  regards  the  City  as  an 
illustrious  parent,  and  should  exhibit,  as  well  as  feel  in  his  deal- 
ings with  it,  a  filial  regard  and  confidence,  which  its  honorable 
character  in  all  periods  for  sound  morals,  and  a  profound  respect 
for  the  sanctities  of  religion,  naturally  produce. 

Regarding,  as  I  do,  its  efforts  to  induce  the  highest  cultivation 
of  intellect,  and  to  cherish  a  strict  and  wise  regard  for  the  union 
of  law  and  liberty,  to  be  among  the  principal  features  of  its 
greatness,  and  which  have  conferred  upon  our  City  a  name  and 


57 

a  praise  throughout  Christendom,  it  gives  me  unfeigned  pleasure 
in  a  humble  manner  to  aid  in  the  accomplishment  of  these 
efforts. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  fellow  citizen, 

JONATHAN  PHILLIPS. 


In  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  April  18,  1853. 

Resolved,  That  the  munificent  gift  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  for 
the  use  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  presented  by  the  Hon.  Jona- 
than Phillips,  be  accepted  upon  the  trust  affixed  by  him,  and  that 
the  grateful  thanks  of  the  City  Council  be,  and  they  hereby  are 
presented  to  him  for  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  the  letter  of  Mr.  Phillips  which  accompanied 
the  above  donation,  so  expressive  of  confidence  and  patriotic  sen- 
timents, honorable  alike  to  him  and  his  native  city,  be  placed  at 
large  on  the  records  of  the  City  Council. 

Resolved,  That  the  Mayor  be  requested  to  transmit  to  Mr. 
Phillips  an  attested  copy  of  these  proceedings. 

Passed  unanimously. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  April  21,  1853. 
Concurred  unanimously. 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  President. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest:  SAM'L  F.  McCLEARY,  JR.,  City  Clerk. 

8 


58 

Boston,  Nov.  4,  1853. 
HON.  BENJAMIN  SEAVEE, 

Mayor  of  Boston. 

DEAR  SIR, — The  City  has  at  last  completed  its  purchase  of  the 
Boylston  street  estates.  I  have  traced  the  several  titles  back  to 
the  first  settlement  of  the  Town — the  Book  of  Possessions.  My 
memoranda  occupy  more  than  twenty-five  pages.  One  of  the 
titles  was  extremely  complicated.  A  late  owner  had  left  a  will 
— untechnically  drawn — which  presented  questions  of  difficult 
legal  construction.  One  devise  was  to  the  testator's  son  for  life 
with  a  remainder  limited  to  his  children,  of  such  a  character  as 
to  open  and  let  in  any  after-born  children.  This  son  died  about 
a  year  since.  So  long  as  he  lived  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  have  obtained  an  indefeasible  title  by  conveyances  from  all 
his  children.  There  were  eventually  four  minors  interested  in 
this  estate,  and  their  shares  were  sold  under  license  of  court- — 
rendering  necessary  a  careful  examination  of  the  probate  pro- 
ceedings. The  fact,  that  two  of  the  various  deeds  to  the  City 
convey  respectively  32-49ths  of  l-3d,  and  17-49ths  of  l-3d  of 
this  estate,  sufficiently  show  the  difficulties  of  the  investigation. 

Had  this  been  a  purchase  by  an  individual  for  his  own  benefit, 
I  should  have  charged  a  large  fee  with  a  clear  conscience.  But 
the  establishment  of  a  City  Library  is  eminently  an  act  for  the 
benefit  of  all — an  act  prompted  by  the  most  liberal  spirit  and 
the  wisest  foresight.  Commencing  where  our  system  of  public 
schools  ends,  it  will  enable  us  to  continue  through  life  to  educate 
ourselves.  It  will,  I  trust,  afford,  to  the  latest  times,  invaluable 
facilities  for  the  intellectual  and  moral  culture  of  the  citizens  of 
Boston. 

If,  then,  my  professional  experience  has  been  found  of  any 
slight  service  in  promoting  an  object  like  this — if  the  corner- 
stone of  the  City  Library  shall  have  been  laid  more  securely 
through  any  instrumentality  of  mine  in  removing  legal  obstruc- 
tions— I  assure  you  that  I  feel  myself  to  have  been  fully  com- 


59 

pensated  by  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  me  of  becoming  a 
fellow-laborer  in  a  good  cause. 

I  remain,  yours,  very  respectfully, 

N.  I.  BOWDITCH. 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  Nov.  12,  1853. 

Ordered,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  given  to  Mr.  Bow- 
ditch  for  his  services  faithfully  and  gratuitously  rendered,  and 
that  in  acknowledgment  of  their  value  his  name  be  inscribed  in 
the  Books  of  the  Public  Library,  as  their  donor,  to  the  value  of 
two  hundred  dollars. 

Attest :  EDWARD  CAPEN,  Secretary. 


City  Hall,  Dec.  4,  1853. 

GENTLEMEN, — I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  have 
received  of  J.  Ingersoll  Bowditch,  Esq.,  three  hundred  dollars,  as 
a  donation  to  the  Public  Library,  to  be  expended  in  medical 
books,  for  the  use  of  the  medical  profession  only.  The  money 
has  been  placed  in  the  City  Treasury  subject  to  your  order.  I 
leave  you  to  make  the  proper  acknowledgment  to  Mr.  Bowditch 
for  his  timely  liberality. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER. 
To  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  Dec.  6,  1853. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Board  be  presented  to  J.  Inger- 
soll Bowditch,  Esq.,  for  his  generous  and  timely  donation,  and 
that  the  same  be  expended,  as  he  desires  that  it  should  be,  in 


60 

medical  books  to  circulate  only  among  the  members  of  the  med- 
ical profession. 

Attest:  EDWAKD  CAPEN,  Secretary. 


Boston,  Tremont  House,  Sept.  17,  1855. 

To  DK.  N.  B.  SHURTLEFF, 

One  of  the  Commissioners  and  Trustees  of  the  Boston  City 
Library. 

DEAR  SIR, — As  you  know  I  have,  from  the  first,  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  the  success  of  the  Boston  Free  Public  Library,  I  here- 
with remit  you  one  thousand  dollars,  to  be  expended  in  the  im- 
mediate purchase  of  books  for  the  same. 

Being  a  native  of  this  City,  where,  also,  both  my  parents  were 
born  and  spent  their  days,  it  will  ever  afford  me  pleasure  to 
know  that  an  institution,  fraught  with  so  much  good  to  the  citi_ 
zens  of  every  class  as  this  Library  must  be,  continues  to  grow 
and  flourish. 

You  will  please  to  see  that  this  donation  is  appropriated  as 
above  requested,  and  so  oblige 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

SALLY  INMAN  EAST  SHEPARD. 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  Sept.  18,  1855. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  sum  be  deposited  by  Dr.  Shurtleff  in 
the  Treasury  of  the  City,  subject  to  the  order  of  this  Board,  for 
fulfilling  the  generous  intentions  of  the  donor. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  present  to  Mrs. 
Sally  Inman  East  Shepard,  the  thanks  of  this  Board,  for  the 
acceptable  and  timely  gift  of  one  thousand  dollars,  to  be  ex- 
pended immediately  in  books  for  the  Library. 

Attest :  EDWARD  CAPEN,  Secretary. 


61 


To  His  HONOR  J.  V.  C.  SMITH, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Boston. 

London,  6  Sept.,  1855. 

DEAR  SIR, — I  learn  with  great  satisfaction  that  the  building 
for  a  Free  Public  Library,  for  which  such  liberal  appropriations, 
have  been  made  by  the  City  Council  is  in  progress  of  erection. 
I  have  on  former  occasions  taken  the  liberty  to  express  the  deep 
interest  which  I  feel  in  the  establishment  of  this  institution,  as 
the  completion  of  that  system  of  education  at  the  free  public 
schools,  by  which  Boston  is  so  honorably  distinguished.  It  has 
therefore  been  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  have  from  time 
to  time  learned  that  even  under  the  disadvantage  of  temporary 
and  inconvenient  premises  for  the  arrangement  of  its  books  and 
the  accommodation  of  those  who  use  them,  it  has  found  great 
favor  with  the  community  and  with  many  liberal  individuals, 
and  has  already  given  promise  of  becoming  an  ornament  and  a 
blessing  to  the  City. 

It  is,  I  understand,  certain,  that  within  eighteen  months  or 
two  years,  a  building  will  be  completed  of  dimensions  amply 
sufficient  for  the  reception  at  once  of  a  large  number  of  books, 
and  for  the  regular  future  increase  of  the  Library.  Time  and 
the  public  spirit  of  the  community  will,  no  doubt,  do  much. 
But  it  is  desirable  and  important  to  render  this  Free  Public 
Library  at  once  extensively  useful  as  a  large  collection  of  books 
in  as  many  departments  of  human  knowledge  as  possible.  For 
this  purpose,  and  still  further  to  manifest  my  deep  interest  in 
the  prosperity  of  the  City  of  Boston,  I  now  propose,  if  agreeable 
to  the  City  Government,  in  addition  to  the  fund  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars  already  constituted,  to  purchase  and  present  to  the  City 
a  considerable  number  of  books  in  trust,  that  the  same  shall 
always  be  accessible  in  a  convenient  and  becoming  Library 
Building,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  generally,  under  such 
regulations  as  may  be  deemed  needful  by  the  persons  to  whom 
the  government  of  the  institution  may  from  time  to  time  be  con- 
fided. 


62 

Trusting  that  the  steps  already  taken  and  now  proposed,  to- 
gether with  the  continued  patronage  and  powerful  support  of  the 
City  authorities,  and  of  a  liberal  and  enlightened  community, 
will  result  in  the  establishment  of  an  institution  which  will  in  all 
future  time  prove  eminently  useful  and  honorable  to  the  City. 

I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Yours,  very  truly, 

JOSHUA  BATES. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON. 
In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Sept.  24,  1855. 

A  communication  from  the  Mayor  covering  a  letter  from 
Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  of  London,  dated  Sept.  6,  1855,  tendering  to 
the  City  a  further  donation  of  books  for  the  use  of  the  Public 
Library  was  read  and  referred  to  the  Trustees  and  Committee  on 
the  Public  Library. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

Oct.  4,  1855.     Came  up  concurred. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON.  \ 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Oct.  8,  1855.  j 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  by  the  City  Council,  the 
letter  of  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,.  proposing  to  purchase  and  present 
to  the  Public  Library  a  considerable  number  of  books  in  trust 
for  the  inhabitants  generally,  ask  leave  unanimously  to  report 
the  following  resolutions,  expressing  the  sense  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment in  relation  to  this  new  act  of  Mr.  Bates'  munificence. 

In  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

ROBERT  COWDIN,  Chairman. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  letter  of  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  addressed 
to  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  and  dated  Sept.  6,  1855,  the  City  Gov- 


63 

ernment  recognize  the  same  wise  and  munificent  spirit  and  the 
same  generous  interest  in  the  prosperity  and  honor  of  the  City  of 
Boston  to  which  they  have,  heretofore  acknowledged  the  obliga- 
tions  of  this  whole  community  ;  and  that  they  now  accept  this 
new  trust  on  the  liberal  terms  in  which  it  is  offered  by  him. 

Resolved,  That  the  Mayor  be  desired  to  request  Mr.  Bates,  in 
the  name  of  the  City  of  Bo3ton,  to  sit  for  his  bust  in  marble  or 
bronze  at  his  pleasure,  and  to  any  artist  he  may  select,  in  order 
that  it  may  be  placed  in  the  building  of  the  Public  Library,  as 
an  enduring  memorial  of  the  City's  obligation  and  gratitude. 

Resolved,  T]iat  the  Mayor  be  requested  to  communicate  these 
resolves  to  Mr.  Bates,  and  that  the  Mayor  be,  and  hereby  is, 
authorized  to  draw  on  the  City  Treasury  for  any  moneys  that 
may  be  needed  to  carry  the  same  into  effect. 

Passed  unanimously. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 
Attest :  SAM'L  F.  McCLEAEY,  City  Clerk. 

In  Common  Council,  Oct.  11,  1855. 
Passed  unanimously  in  concurrence. 

WM.  A.  BELL,  President  pro  tern. 

Oct.  13,  1855. 

Approved.         J.  V.  C.  SMITH,  Mayor. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest :  SAM'L  F.  McCLEARY,  City  Clerk. 


CITY  OF  BOSTON.  "I 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Oct.  8,  1855.  / 

Ordered,  That  the  letter  of  Mr.  Bates  referred  to  in  the  fore- 
going resolves,  together  with  copies  of  the  action  of  the  City 


64 

Council  thereon,  be  deposited  with  the  Trustees  of  the  Public 
Library  for  their  information  and  further  action. 

Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

Attest :  SAM'L  F.  McCLEARY,  City  Clerk. 

In  Common  Council,  Oct.  11,  1855. 
Concurred.  WM.  A.  BELL,  President  pro  tern. 

Oct.  13,  1855. 

Approved.         J.  V.  C.  SMITH,  Mayor. 

A  true  copy.    Attest:    SAM'L  F.  McCLEAKY,  City  Cleric. 


Extract  from  the  last    Will  and  Testament  of  the  late  HON. 
ABBOTT  LAWBENCE,  dated  27th  January,  1855. 

"  I  give  and  bequeathe  to  the  City  of  Boston  the  sum  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  the  use  of  the  Public  Library  in  the  said 
City — the  same  to  be  paid  within  three  years  after  the  probate  of 
this  my  Will,  and  the  income  thereof  to  be  appropriated  for  the 
purchase  of  books  for  the  said  Library  under  the  direction  of  the 
Trustees." 


DONORS    AND    DONATIONS, 


Appleton,  Samuel      ....  $1,000  00 

Bates,  Joshua              Funded,    ....  50,000  00 

Bigelow,  John  P.                                            ...  1,000  00 

Bowditch,  J.  Ingersoll,       ....                 .  300  00 

Bowditch,  N.  I.             Services  valued  at    -                 -  200  00 

Brown,  James            ...         .                  ..  5  00  00 

Nightingale,  James             ....  100  00 

Phillips,  Jonathan,  Funded 10,000  00 

Shepard,  Mrs.  Sally  Inman  East,  1,000  00 

Vols.  Pamph. 

1.  Adams,  George,     -  22             3 

2.  Adams,  Nehemiah,  D.D.  4 

3.  Albany  Young  Men's  Association,  -  1 

4.  Allen,  John  Fiske,  Salem,      -  1 

5.  Allen,  William,  D.D.,  Northampton,        -  1 

6.  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 

Missions,  by  Prudential  Committee,  -  32 

7.  American  Tract  Society,  73 

8.  Anderson,  Paul,  Cincinnati,  -  3 

9.  Anonymous,          ....  36  16 

10.  Athenaeum  Club,  London, 

11.  Appleton,  John  W.  M. 

12.  Appleton,  Thomas  G-.             -  9 

13.  Appleton,  Samuel  -           1 

14.  Appleton,  William        -  -        22             3 

15.  Austin,  Edward,  ...  23 

16.  Austin,  James  T.                   -                 -  2 

17.  Balch,  Thomas,  Philadelphia,  1 

18.  Balfour,  David  M.        -  82            5 

19.  Ballard  &  Prince,          -  1 

20.  Ballou,  Maturin  M.  6 

21.  Bates,  Mrs.  Joshua,  London,  2 

22.  Barnard,  Henry,  Conn.  1 

23.  Bigelow,  Henry  J.,  M.D.        -  6 

24.  Bigelow,  Jacob,  M.D.             ....  1 

25.  Bigelow,  John  P.           -  -      453         624 

9 


66 


26.  Binney,  C.  J.  F.            - 

Vols. 

1 

Pam] 

27.  Binney,  Horace,  Philadelphia, 

2 

28.  Bishop,  Nathan,                              ... 

3 

12 

29.  Bolles,  John  A.     -        -        -        -      '  - 

24 

30.  Boltwood,  Lucius  M.,  Amherst,      ... 

2 

31.  Bond,  William  0.,  Cambridge, 

I 

32.  Boston,  England  -        

I 

33.  Boston,  City  of             -                          - 

340 

40 

34.  Boston  Mercantile  Library  Association,  - 

1 

35.  Boston  Society  for  Medical  Observation, 

4 

12 

36.  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History, 

4 

1 

37.  Boston  Young  Men's  Christian  Union,    - 

1 

38.  Bowditch,  Henry  I.,  M.D.     - 

6 

1 

39.  Bowditch,  J.  I  

4 

40.  Bowditch,  N.  I.     

1 

41.  Bradford,  Charles  F.     -                 - 

1 

42.  Bradlee,  Eev.  C.  D.,  Cambridge,     - 

8 

21 

43.  Bradlee,  John  N.          -                 ... 

55 

44.  Brooks,  Peter  C.           -        -        - 

144 

40 

45.  Brown,  Obediah,  Trustees  of, 

12 

46.  Buchanan,  A.,  by  Monroe  &  Co.     - 

4 

47.  Burnham,  Mrs.  E.  J.     - 

3 

48.  Burnham  and  Brother,           - 

1 

49.  Cambridge,  City  of,                          ... 

1 

. 

50.  Capen,  John,                          -                 -        - 

4 

51.  Cass,  Mrs.  L.  A.  - 

5 

52.  Chandler,  George,  Worcester, 

1 

53.  Channing,  Walter,  M.D. 

3 

54.  Chickering,  Jesse,  M.D.          .... 

1 

55.  Cincinnati  Young  Men's  Library  Association,  - 

1 

56.  Clapp,  David 

11 

60 

57.  Clapp,  Otis           

5 

41 

58.  Clapp,  W.  W.       - 

7 

59.  Coffin,  Admiral  Sir  I.    -         -         - 

6° 

60.  Cogswell,  J.  G.,  New  York,    - 

4 

2 

61.  Copeland,  Elisha,          -        - 

14 

79 

62.  Cornell,  Wm.  M    M  D. 

5 

9 

63.  Couthouy,  J.  P.    - 

4 

64.  Curtis,  Josiah,  M.D. 

1 

3 

65.  Danforth,  Mrs.  Hannah  G.,  - 

7 

66.  Dall,  William      .... 

70 

150 

67.  Davis,  David  E.  - 

2 

68.  Dearborn,  Nathaniel     - 

21 

69.  Dench,  Lawson  B. 

3 

70.  Dennett,  C.  F  - 

2 

71.  Dennet,  W.  H.      - 

1 

72.  Denton,  William,          .... 

23 

22 

73.  Dillaway.  Charles  K.     

2 

0  A  very  early  donation  to  the  City. 


67 

Vols.          Pamph. 

74.  Dixon,  B.  Homer,  10 

75.  Dodd,  William,     -        -  18 

76.  Dupee,  James  A.  -         -         -         :  1 

77.  Durkee,  Silas,  M.D.      -                          -  1 

78.  Dwight,  Louis,      ......  4 

79.  Eastburn,  John  H. 1           67 

80.  Eliot,  Samuel  A.                                       -     <    -  85             2 

81.  Eolopoesis,  Author  of, 1 

82.  Eustis,  William  T.         -                  ...  4 

83.  Everett,  Edward,  (1  Statistical  Table,  27  Maps 

and  Charts,)      -                           ...  1653         836 

84.  Flint,  Charles  L.  -.171 

85.  Foster,  Miss  F.  E.                            ...  1 

86.  French,  B.  F.  3 

87.  French,  James  &  Co.,    -                           -  2 

88.  Frost,  Oliver, 10 

89.  Gait,  J.  M.,  Va.  -         -  14 

90.  Garrison,  William  L.    -  1 

91.  Gasking,  Samuel,  1 

92.  Gilbert,  A.,  New  York,          -  1 

93.  Girard,  Charles,  Philadelphia,         -  1 

94.  Gould,  A.  A.,  M.D.       -        -  1 

95.  Graham,  Maj.  George,  Eegistrar  General,  Lon- 

don, by  Josiah  Curtis,  M.D.                   -  8 

96.  Gray,  Asa,  M.D.  -                                    -  2 

97.  Gray,  Francis  0. 57 

98.  Greene,  0.  W.,  Greenwich,  E.  I.      -  33 

99.  Griswold,  Almon  W. 1 

100.  Guild,  Albert,       ...  9 

101.  Guild,  Benjamin,  3 

102.  Guildhall  Library  Committee,  London,  -  2 

103.  Hale,  Nathan  and  Charles,    -                  -  1 

104.  Hartshorn,  Eliphalet  P.  99           98 

105.  Harvard  College,  President  and  Fellows  of,      -  5 

106.  Hastings,  Mary  Ann,    -  1 

107.  Hay  ward,  George,  M.D.  1 

108.  Herrick,  E.  C.,  Yale  College,  1 

109.  Higginson,  Eev.  T.  W.,  Worcester,          -  1 

110.  Hillard,  George  S.                  ....  202             1 

111.  Hills,  George, 3 

112.  Holland,  Eev.  F.W.     -                 -        -  1           13 

113.  Hooper,  Eobert  C.   (Subscription  for  Work  of 

Prof.  Agassiz,) 

114.  Howe,  John,  Jr.,  1 

1 15.  Jackson,  Abby  C.  1 

116.  Jackson,  Francis,           ...  1 

117.  Jackson,  James,  M.D. 128         600 

118.  Jarvis,  Edward,  M.D.   .....  65 

119.  Jones,  J.  S.,  M.D. 2 


68 

Vols.   •       Pamph. 

120.  King,  Mrs.  Gedney       -  7 

121.  Kingman,  Charles  B. 3 

122.  Kittredge,  Edward  A.,  M.D.                             -  128           13 

123.  Kneeland,  Samuel,  Jr.,  M.D.  2 
12-t.  Lamb,  Anthony,           -         -  1 

125.  Lambord,  "William,        -  H 

126.  Lawrence,  Abbott,  Jr.  -        :  14 

127.  Lawrence,  T.  B.  -  4 

128.  Lee,  Thomas  J 1             1 

129.  Leeds,  Charles  H.,  New  York,        -  1 

130.  Lincoln,  Frederick  W.,  Jr.     -  22 

131.  Livcrmore,  George,  Cambridge,       -  4 

132.  Loring,  Ellis  G.    -  3 

133.  Loring,  James  S 8         222 

l:-J4.  Lowell,  John, 89        .      2 

135.  Lunt,  Wm.  P.,  D.D.      ....  9 

136.  McCleary,  S.  F. 1         250 

137.  McCleary,  S.  F.  Jr 1 

138.  McMahon,  Rev.J.  B.,  M.D.    -  19 

139.  McVey,        --.-..-  1 

140.  Manchester  City  Library,  Trustees  of,     -  1 

141.  Manypenny,  Geo.  W.,  TJ.  S.  Com.  Ind.  Affs,  -  3 

142.  Maryland  Historical  Society,  3 

143.  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Association,  8             2 

144.  Massachusetts  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture,      9 

145.  Massachusetts,  State  of                   -  40 

146.  Means,  Eev.  J. I 

147.  Merrill,  Elizabeth  L 23 

148.  Merritt,  Mrs.  J.  -  13 

149.  Middlesex  Mechanics  Association,  Lowell,        -  1 

150.  Montagu,  A.  de    -  1 

151.  Munroe,  James     -  3 

152.  Munroe,  James  &  Co.    -        ...  1 

153.  Munsell,  J.,  Albany,      -                 -  1 

154.  Murray  Fund,  Trustees  of,     -  2 

155.  New  York,  State  of,  1 

156.  N.  Y.  Mercantile  Lib.  Association,  1 

157.  New  York  Society  Library,    -  1 

158.  New  York  University,  Kegents  of,  -         -         -  9             1 

159.  Norton,  Charles  B.,  N.  Y.      -  1             1 

160.  Norton,  Charles  E.  6 

161.  Norwood,  Samuel,  7         105 

162.  Odiorne,  George,  -  22           61 

163.  Otis,  Mrs.  Harrison  Gray       -  1 

164.  Paine,  Martyn,  M.D.,  N  Y.,  eng'd  Portraits,    -  7 

165.  Paris,  City  of,  2  Maps,           ....  178           39 

166.  Parker,  Henry  T.  7 

167.  Parsons,  Usher,  M.D.    -  1 

168.  Peabody,  Mrs.  Augustus        -  90        383 


Vols.  Pamph. 

169.  Peabody  Institute,  Danvers,  -  1 

170.  Pennsylvania,  State  of,  26 

171.  Phillips,  Jonathan,        -  -       31",         790 

172.  Phillips,  Sampson  &  Co.  1 

173.  Piper,  Solomon,     -  1 

174.  Poole,  William  F.  1 

175.  Potter,  E.  B.,  E.  I.  10           10 

176.  Prescott,  Frederick  W.           -                  -  99           20 

177.  Pulsifer,  David,    ...         -  1 

178.  Putnam,  Charles  G.,  M.D.      -  -       330         166 

179.  Quincy,  Eliza  S.  -  1 

180.  Quincy,  Josiah,  Sen'r.   -  2 

181.  Eeed,  Sampson,     -  33 

182.  Keid,  Hiram  A.    -  2 

183.  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,     -  21 

184.  Eichardson,  James  B.    -  22 

185.  Rich  Brothers,  London,  4           24 

186.  Eichmond,  John  W.,  Providence,    -  2 

187.  Eiddle,  Edward,   -                  -  1 

188.  Bobbins,  Chandler,  D.D:  4 

189.  Eoelker,  Bernard,          -  2 

190.  Buggies,  S.  B.,  New  York,     -  1 

191.  San  Francisco  Mer.  Library  Association,  1              1 

192.  Sawyer,  F.  W.      -  1 

193.  Sears,  David,  Medals. 

194.  Seaver,  Benjamin,  1              I 

195.  Shaw,  G.  Howland,       -  1 

196.  Shurtleff,  Nathaniel  B.,  M.D.  23         227 

197.  Sinclair,  A.  D.      -  o 

198.  Smith,  Elbridge,  Cambridge,  1 

199.  Snow,  Eev.  Herman       -  2 

200.  Southey,  Thomas,  England,   -  3 

201.  Sparks,  Jared,       ...  1 

202.  Spear,  Eev.  Charles      -  6             9 

203.  Spurr,  0.  H.  6 

204.  Stodder,  Charles,           -  4 

205.  Sumner,  Charles,                     -  37 

206.  Sumner,  W.  H.  Eoxbury,       -  1 

207.  Sunderland,  La  Eoy,     -  6 

208.  Symonds,  Sarah  W.  3 

209.  Tarbell,  Mrs.  Thomas   -  11         166 

210.  Thayer,  Gideon  F.  20         201 

211.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Louisa          -  32 

212.  Thornton,  J.  Wingate,  -  13 

213.  Thwing,  Thomas,           -  15 

214.  Ticknor,  George,  14  Charts,  &c.,    -                  -     1246  70 

215.  Ticknor,  Eeed  &  Fields,  3 

216.  Torrey,  Henry  W.  1 

217.  Turner,  J.  W.       -                          ...  1 


70 

Vols.          Pamph. 

218.  United  States,      -                                            -  145 

219.  United  States  State  Department,    -  94 

220.  United  States  Patent  Office,  -         -  3 

221.  United  States  Treasury  Department,  10  charts. 

222.  United  States  War  Department,     -  16 

223.  Vermont  University,               :  1 
22i.  Wales,  George  W.  8 

225.  Walker,  Amasa,   -----  1 

226.  Ward,  Samuel  G. 5 

227.  Ware,  John,  M.D. 239         307 

228.  Warren,  John  C.,  M.D.  5 

229.  Warren,  J.  Mason,  M.D.  30 

230.  Warren  Street  Chapel  Library,       -        -        -  12 

231.  Webb,  Thos.  H.,  M.D.  -  1 

232.  Webster  Daniel,    -         -                  -  6 

233.  Webster,  Eev.  George  W.,  Wheeling,      -  1 

234.  Weld,  Moses  W.,  M.D.,  1  Crystallotype,          -  2 

235.  Wells,  Eev.  E.  M.  P.     -  1 

236.  Welsh,  Charles  W.,  U.  S.  Navy  Department,  -  21             2 

237.  West,  Mrs.  E.  L.           -                  -         -  2 

238.  Wetherbee,  Moses  H.    -  3 

239.  Wctmore,  Thomas,  8 

240.  Whipple  &  Black,  20  Crystallotypcs. 

241.  Whitney,  Frederic  A.,  Brighton,     -                 -  30 

242.  Whitwell,  Samuel,        -    '     -                  -        -  68         112 

243.  Wilkins,  John  H. 69 

244.  Willard,  F.  A.,  M.D.     -                                   -  2 

245.  Williams,  Henry  W.,  M.D.    -  1             1 

246.  Williams,  John  D.  W.  -        -                          -  296           26 

247.  Willis,  Nathaniel, 27 

248.  Wilson,  John,       -         -  2 

249.  Winthrop,  Kobcrt  C.      -                                     -  288           32 

250.  Wise,  Henry  A.    -  1 

251.  Withington,  Kev.  William,    -  1 

252.  Woods,  Charles,    -                 :  1 

253.  Wright,  Ephraim  M.     -        -        -  10 


CONDITION  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBEARY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON. 
SEPTEMBER  17,  1855. 

Whole  number  of  names  registered  in  the  Reading  Eoom,  10,215 

Whole  number  of  accounts  opened  for  borrowing  Books,  8,858 

Number  of  volumes  in  the  Library,       -         -         -         -  22,017 


71 
TEUSTEES  OF  THE   PUBLIC   LIBEAEY. 


TEUSTEES  CHOSEN  MAY  13,  1852,  BEFORE  THE  PASSAGE  OF  THE  ORDINANCE. 

From  the  City  Council. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  EDWARD  S.  ERVING, 

SAMPSON  REED,  JAMES  B.  ALLEN, 

LYMAN  PERRY,  GEORGE  W.  WARREN, 

JAMES  LAWRENCE,  GEORGE  WILSON. 

From  the  Citizens  at  Large. 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF, 

GEORGE  TICKNOR,  THOMAS  G.  APPLETON. 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW, 

TRUSTEES  CHOSEN  UNDER  THE  ORDINANCE   OF  OCTOBER  14,   1852. 

From  the  Citizens  at  Large. 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  Pres.,    ....  1852,  1853,  1854,  1855. 

GEORGE  TICKNOR, "          "          "         " 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW, 

NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  -     -     -     -  " 

THOMAS  G.  APPLETON, "          "          "         " 

From  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

SAMPSON  REED, 1852,   1853. 

OLIVER  EROST, 1854. 

ABEL  B.  MUNROE, 1854. 

JOHN  M.  CLARK, 1855. 

GEORGE  W.  MESSINGER,      --------  1855. 

From  the  Common  Council. 

GEORGE  W.  WARREN, 1852,  1853,   1854. 

JOSEPH  STORY,      -- 1855. 


72 


COMMISSIONERS 


ON  THE 


ERECTION   OF   THE   LIBRAE!   BUILDING. 


FIRST  BOARD,  CHOSEN  UNDER  THE  ORDINANCE  OP  NOVEMBER  27,  1854. 

EGBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  Pres.,  lfrom  ^  Citizem  ^  L 
SAMUEL  G.  WARD,  y 

GEORGE  TICKNOR,  ]from  ^  B      d  of  Trustees. 

NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  j  J 

GEORGE  ODIORNE,  from  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 
GEORGE  "W.  WARREN,  from  the  Common  Council. 


PRESENT  BOARD,  UNDER  THE  AMENDED  ORDINANCE  OP  APRIL  3.  1855. 

Named  in  the  Ordinance. 

EGBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  Pres.,          GEORGE  TICKNOR, 
SAMUEL  G.  WARD,  NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEPF. 

Chosen  by  the  City  Council. 
CHARLES  WOODBEBRY,  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


1961 

tU-lia. 


Form  L9-10m-l, '52(9291)444 


000  837  485 


4 
1 


